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THE STORY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION IN CONNECTICUT 



THE SPIRIT OF THE LEGION 

The American Legion is a spontaneous expression of purpose 
hy those millions of Americans who helped crush autocracy. Out 
of their common experiences through the dark months of the war 
has grown a comradeship and a patriotism which is vitalised hp 
their organisation into this single concrete force which will stand 
always as a harrier against the forces of greed, ignorance and 
chaos: 

The Legion is the epitome of the Americanism for which it 
stands. Its voice is the majority voice of its members; its will the 
will of many. Spontaneous in inception, it has been democratic 
in its development. There are no titles recorded on its rolls. It 
is free of rank, of caste and of partisanship. If it seeks in a full 
measure to serve those who were in the service, it seeks in fuller 
measure to serve America. 

The Legion, while it is non-political, has and always will have 
policies, in that it reflects the will and opinions of the majority of 
its members, whose sanity, unselfishness and patriotism may de 
depended upon in questions affecting national or international 
integrity or adjustment. 




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THE STORY OF 



THE AMERICAN LEGION 



IN CONNECTICUT 



BY 

B. H. MATTHIES 



ILLUSTRATED 



SEYMOUR, CONNECTICUT 
MDCCCCXX 



1^s^ 



Copyright, 1920, by 
B. H. Matthies 



DEC 21 1920 
0CLA6O5O76 



FOREWORD 

Little did the author think when he pnt in the resolution at the State 
Convention, October 11, 1919, that he would be the one assigned to write 
up the history of the Legion in Connecticut. However, the state execu- 
tive committee elected him state historian at their meeting held Tues- 
day, October 28, 1919. The author received notice of his election a few 
days later. 

The National Convention in Minneapolis and other work prevented 
my doing very much toward writing a history. Then, when I did start, 
I found that hardly a record had been kept of anything that was done 
before the October" convention. This necessitated a lot of letter writ- 
ing, and a trip or two to headquarters at Hartford. Answers to my 
letters were slow in coming and information proved hard to get. I 
have gleaned all the information I could from all sources and have 
tried to compile it into book form. If there is anything left out or any 
mistakes, it is either lack of information or the wrong information sent 
to me. 

I trust that I shall be pardoned for any errors or omissions and 
that the book will be of some value to the Legion in Connecticut. 

I have received assistance from Mr. J. B. Moody, Jr., Mr. A. N. 
Phillips, Jr., Mr. F. S. Butterworth, Mr. T. J. Bannegan, Mr. W. J, 
Malone, and Mr. W. D. Copp. I owe thanks to two stenographers for 
their patience in copying and recopying material until it was finally 
finished, also to two other people for their untiring assistance in proof 
reading and correcting. 

B. H. Matthies. 
Seymour, Connecticut, May, 1920. 



CONTENTS 



Chapter I. The Beginning . . . . . . 

Chapter II. Minutes of State Executive Committee Meetings 
Chapter III, First State Convention 
Chapter IV. Constitution and By-Laws 
Appendix . . . , , . 

Interesting Facts and Comment of the Legion 

Roster ....... 



Page 

13 
23 
35 
46 
88 
104 
109 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



1. ■ Delegates at the First State Convention, 

1919 

2. On Way to St. Louis . 

3. Some of the Delegates 

4. Badges, etc., worn at St. Louis 

5. Mr. J. B. Moody, Jr. . 

6. Mr. A. N. Phillips, Jr. 

7. Connecticut State Charter 

8. Temporary Charter . 

9. Mr. F. S. Butterworth 

10. Mr. W. D. Copp 

11. State Convention Badges . 

12. Minneapolis Convention Badge 

13. City of Minneapolis Badge 

14. Mr. B. H. Matthies . 

15. Certificate 



Page 

October 11, 

frontispiece 

facing page 16 

24 

32 

40 

48 

56 

64 

72 

80 

88 

96 

104 

112 

120 



THE STORY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION 
IN CONNECTICUT 

Chapter I: The Beginning 

' ' The war is over. ' ' The thrill, the joy that went through us when 
we heard that cry on November 11, 1918! Hardly had those 
words ceased to echo when a veteran organization began to be 
talked about. A caucus was held in Paris, March 15-17, 1919. 
The second w^as held at St. Louis, May 8-10, 1919. It is hardly 
necessary to tell about these for they are described by Gr. S. 
Wheat in "The Story of The American Legion," published by 
G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York (price $1.50). Every man ought 
to have one of these books in his library, for it is a history of The 
American Legion from its beginning. Not all of us know how the 
Legion started in Connecticut and it is that part the author will 
try to tell you about. The first one in Connecticut to hear from 
the leaders of The American Legion was Mr. James B. Moody, 
Jr., of Hartford. On March 27, 1919, he received the following 
telegram: "A conference will be held in St. Louis about May 1 
for the purpose of organizing an association composed of those 
who have been in the land and naval forces of the United States 
in the war. A convention held in France has already organized 
these forces in an association called The American Legion and 
will have its representatives at this convention. Organizations 
already in existence will be invited to send delegates. Will you 
wire 19 West Forty-fourth Street names, addresses and rank of 
men from your state in the service, not at present in France, whom 
you feel are representative'? It is assumed, of course, that your 
recommendations will include enlisted men." Signed Theodore 
Roosevelt, Jr. Upon receipt of this telegram, Mr. Moody realized 
that an effort was being made to organize the veterans of the 
Great War. He at once made up his mind to get behind the move- 

13 



The American'Legion in Connecticut 

ment and a few days later lie sent Mr. Roosevelt a list of names. 
Mr. Roosevelt telephoned Mr. Moody from New York and ap- 
pointed him temporary state chairman, also stating that he had 
appointed Mr. Alfred N. Phillips, Jr., of Stamford, as temporary 
state secretary. 

In February, 1919, Mr. A. N. Phillips, Jr., started and organ- 
ized in Stamford a veteran association w^hich was known as ' ' The 
Army and Navy Association of the Great War." This grew to 
be about three hundred in membership. They worked and organ- 
ized posts in Danbury and Bridgeport, intending to cover the 
entire state and have it organized, but in April came news of 
The American Legion. Mr.* Phillips went to New York and saw 
Mr. Roosevelt, Dr. Richard Derby, and others who were trying 
to organize The American Legion throughout the United States. 
Mr. Roosevelt appointed Mr. Phillips as state secretary, stating 
that Mr. James B. Moody, Jr., of Hartford, had been appointed 
chairman. 

On April 16, 1919, Mr. Moody and Mr. Phillips met at the 
Hotel Taft in New Haven and made arrangements for a tem- 
porary organization by senatorial districts in the state. This left 
them but two weeks in which to complete the work before the 
state caucus would be held and much credit is due both of these 
gentlemen. Mr. Phillips gave up his work for the time being, 
traveling day and night over the state rmtil May 1, when the 
caucus was held. He used the telephone and telegraph when 
necessary, also the press as much as he could. 

Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., called on Mr. James B. Moody, 
Jr., in his office in Hartford, about April 20, 1919, in regard to 
Connecticut's part in The American Legion which was being 
formed. Mr. Moody was requested to proceed with arrangements 
for a delegation from this state to attend the national caucus, 
which would be held in St. Louis, May 8, 9, and 10, 1919. The 
basis of representation was two delegates for each congress- 
man, which allowed ten from this state. Mr. Moody was told 
that they intended to give the national organization the name 
'' American Legion" and that all who were in the service between 
AjDril 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, were eligible for member- 

14 



The Beginning 

ship, also that all the states in the Union were invited to send 
delegates, the vote to be on the basis of two delegates and alter- 
nates from each congressional district in each state, together 
with delegates at large equal to the number of congressional 
districts. 

It was about the last of January, 1919, when the author heard 
about the ''United American War Veterans." While in New 
York in March, he went to their headquarters, seeking informa- 
tion, and was in there several times after that. It was on the 
first visits that he heard of the caucus to be held in St. Louis in 
May, 1919. He told them that he wanted to go to St. Louis and 
they said he could go as a state delegate. On May 2, he received 
a telegram from Mr. A. N. Phillips, Jr., of Stamford, asking if 
he could go as a state delegate, and would he meet them in New 
York on May 6. He replied that he could go and would meet 
them in New York. The "United American War Veterans" were 
planning to, and later did, consolidate with The American Legion. 

Mr. James B. Moody, Jr., of Hartford, and Mr. Alfred N. 
Philli23S, Jr., of Stamford, respectively temporary chairman and 
temporary secretary for The American Legion in Connecticut, 
issued a call for a state caucus to be held at the City Club in Hart- 
ford, May 1, 1919, at 11.00 a.m. (See page 97 for the call.) The 
meeting of representatives from each congressional district in the 
state was held at the City Club in Hartford, May 1, 1919, Mr. 
James B. Moody, Jr., temporary chairman, presiding. Mr. Mor- 
gan G. Bulkeley welcomed the men who had come to the city from 
all over the state. He said that the temporary committee of 
American officers serving in France was formed for the purpose 
of gathering together, from the whole army, two caucuses which 
should represent respectively the troops in France and those who 
had been retained in, or returned to, America. 

. ''The purpose was," said Mr. Bulkeley, "to take necessary 
initial steps toward the formation of a non-partisan and non- 
political association of the veterans of the G-reat War, an associa- 
tion which shall keep alive the principles of justice, freedom and 
democracy for which these veterans fought, an association which 
shall preserve to future generations the history and incidents of 

15 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

their participation in the war and shall cement and perpetuate 
the ties of comradeship in the service." 

The principal business was the election of delegates to the 
national caucus in St. Louis on May 8, 9, and 10, 1919. The 
following were elected as delegates at large : 

Hiram Bingham of New Haven, 
Walter D. Makepeace of Waterbury, 
James B. Moody, Jr., of Hartford, 
Alfred N. Phillips, Jr., of Stamford. 

Delegates chosen to represent the five congressional districts 
were : 

First, William J. Malone of Bristol, 

Robert Vance of New Britain. 
Second, Morton C. Tiley of Essex, 

Webster D. Copp of Norwich. 
Third, Daniel W. Lamouette of Wallingf ord, 

Albert Schultz of Wallingford. 
Fourth, Philo C. Calhoun of Bridgeport, 

Harry C. Meserve of Stamford. 
Fifth, James S. Hurley of Waterbury, 

Francis W. Carroll of Waterbury. 

Because of illness Mr. Bingham was unable to go. Mr. Butter- 
worth of New Haven was chosen to go in his place. Mr. B. H. 
Matthies of Seymour and Mr. P. L. Sampsell of Essex were 
chosen delegates in place of others unable to go. Mr. A. N. 
Phillips, Jr., temporary secretary, read a telegram requesting 
that a delegate be sent to St. Louis for the advance meeting to 
be held in the Hotel Statler, Tuesday, May 6, 1919, at 2.00 p.m., 
the purpose being to make final arrangements for the con- 
vention. Mr. H. C. Meserve was elected to attend this 
meeting. The committee in charge of arrangements for the St. 
Louis caucus invited the governors and the adjutant generals 
from all the states in the Union to attend the caucus as delegates 
of honor. Annoimcements were made that the wearing of uni- 
forms was optional, that the expense of a delegate was estimated 

16 




O r 



SI 

o >■ 



The Beginning 

at $125, and it was left to the men from each district attending 
the state meeting to arrange as to finance, that each delegate to 
the St. Louis caucus was requested to register at a booth in the 
lobby of the Hotel Statler, that the Hotels Statler and Jefferson 
would take care of the delegates and that the meeting place of 
the caucus would be the Jefferson Theatre. At the caucus, 30 
out of the 35 senatorial districts were represented by delegates. 
Following is a list of names of all those who were at the caucus : 

Abbott, George C, Captain, Wallingford, 
Bidwell, Daniel D., Private, East Hartford, 
Bingham, Hiram, Lieutenant-Colonel, New Haven, 
Bissell, L. J., Captain, Rockville, 
Bulkeley, Morgan Gr., Jr., Major, Hartford, 
Calhoun, Philo C, Private, Bridgeport, 
Copp, W. D., Lieutenant, Norwich, 
Hart, Everett H., Sergeant, Hartford, 
Lloward, James L., Colonel, Hartford, 
Howie, James S., Corporal, Middletown, 
Hubbard, John T. L., Lieutenant, Bridgeport, 
Huntington, Charles A., Lieutenant, Windsor, 
Hurley, James S., Lieutenant, Waterbury, 
Jackson, Harry C, Private, New Britain, 
Judson, Croal, Jr., Captain, Deep Biver, 
King,, Vincent M., Lieutenant-Colonel, Danbury, 
Lamouette, D. W., Major, Wallingford, 
Lilley, Theodore, Captain, Waterbury, 
Makepeace, Walter D., Major, Waterbury, 
Malone, William J., Major, Bristol, 
Meserve, H. C, Captain, Stamford, 
Mills, Claude A., Corporal, Rockville, 
Moody, James B., Jr., Captain, Hartford, 
Moore, Bussell Y., Lieutenant, Bridgeport, 
Neilson, Arthur A., Sergeant, Hartford, 
Phillips, Alfred N., Lieutenant, Stamford, 
Ransom, J. Ford, Private, Windsor, 
Scoville, Morton W., Lieutenant, Hartford, 
Seeley, William P., Sergeant, Bridgeport, 

17 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

Sliultz, A., Sergeant, Wallingford, 
Smitli, Wayne C, Sergeant, Meriden, 
Stockwell, William M., Major, New Britain, 
Sullivan, William L., Sergeant, Hartford, 
Swain, R. S., Corporal, Bridgeport, 
Tiley, Morton C, Private, Essex, 
Tuttle, D. S., Private, Naugatuck, 
Vance, Robert, Sergeant, New Britain, 
Woodcock, Harold P., Private, Lakeville. 

The delegates from Connecticut met in the Pennsylvania Hotel 
in New York City on the afternoon of May 6, 1919, later taking 
a special delegates' train at the Pennsylvania Station for St. 
Louis, delegates from other adjacent states being on the train. 
It was 5.30 p.m. when the special train left and there were seven 
cars full of men, all interested in one great idea, which they were 
on their way to help put into concrete shape. In St. Louis the 
delegates were quartered in the Jefferson and Statler Hotels. 
The Jefferson Theatre was the meeting place of the convention. 
Those making up the party from Connecticut were: James B. 
Moody, Jr., at that time state chairman; Alfred N. Phillips, Jr., 
then state secretary and later state chairman ; William J. Malone, 
later state secretary; F. W. Carroll and Paul L. Sampsell, vice 
chairmen; Frank S. Butterworth, state treasurer; Bernard H. 
Matthies, Philo C. Calhoun, W. D. Copp, James S. Hurley, H. C. 
Meserve, Morton C. Tiley and Robert Vance. Mr. Meserve had 
been sent ahead as advance agent of the Connecticut delegation 
and succeeded in procuring fine accommodations at the Jefferson 
Hotel, close to the convention hall, for the Connecticut delegates. 
Mr. Meserve also had been in attendance at all of the meetings 
preliminary to the caucus and informed the Connecticut delegates 
as to what the probable sentiment of the caucus might be on many 
of the important subjects for discussion. Our delegates, like those 
from many of the smaller states in the Union, had a vital say in 
many of the most important matters which came before the first 
gathering of American Legion delegates to be held in the United 
States. Being well up on the list of states in their alphabetical 
order, Connecticut, as the first of the New England or "Yankee" 

18 



The Beginning 

states, was looked to with keen anticipation each time a roll-call 
vote was taken. Delegations from other parts of the country often 
saw in Connecticut's vote an indication as to how the vote of the 
caucus might go. Another feature of the caucus was its frank- 
ness, — everything was aboveboard and everybody had his say as 
long as he could reasonably be heard. It is a source of great satis- 
faction to the Connecticut delegates to reflect upon the fact that 
one of our Connecticut men, William J. Malone, wrote the major 
part of the constitution as presented and accepted at that time. 
By action of the caucus, all delegates from each state were to con- 
stitute the state executive committee until after the first state con- 
vention. The Connecticut delegates successfully advocated the 
election of Philo C. Calhoun as Marine Vice Chairman, against 
three other aspirants for that honor. We also had our represent- 
atives on each of the committees: executive, H. C. Meserve and 
A. N. Phillips; resolution, F. W. Carroll; constitution and by- 
laws, W. J. Malone; organization, P. C. Calhoun; convention, 
P. S. Butterworth; permanent headquarters, B. H. Matthies; 
publication, P. C. Vance; finance, J. B. Moody; name, P. L. 
Sampsell;- emblem, J. B. Moody; next meeting place, W. D. 
Copj). When the caucus was concluded the Connecticut delegates 
agreed that in practically all of the important matters their vote 
usually agreed with the ultimate choice of the caucus. The Con- 
necticut delegation returned to New York on Sunday, May 11, 
1919, reporting an interesting and enjoyable time at St. Louis. 

The first meeting of the Connecticut delegates, after the St. 
Louis caucus, was held at the City Club in Hartford, June 10, 
1919. The delegates resolved themselves into the first state execu- 
tive committee of The American Legion in Connecticut, author- 
ized to do so by the temporary national organization, the follow- 
ing constituting the committee: James B. Moody, Jr., chairman; 
William J. Malone, first vice chairman ; Francis W. Carroll, sec- 
ond vice chairman; Alfred N. Phillips, secretary; Frank S. But- 
terworth, treasurer ; Hiram Bingham, Philo C. Calhoun, Webster 
D. Copp, James S. Hurley, Walter D. Makepeace, Bernard H. 
Matthies, Harry C. Meserve, Paul L. Sampsell, Morton C. Tiley 
and Robert Vance. At this meeting the state charter was 

19 



The American Ijegion in Connecticut 

adopted, the constitution and by-laws, and all that had been 
done np to the present time was approved and ratified. The work 
of organizing the local posts began in earnest after the second 
state executive committee meeting, held in Hartford, July 8, 1919. 
Each member of the committee was appointed as an organizer 
for the district around his home. Mr. J. S. Hurley was assigned 
the district around Waterbury. Charter No. 1 was issued 
to the Waterbury Post organized by Mr. Hurley. He helped 
organize the Naugatuck Post and others. Bristol Post No. 
2 was organized by Mr. W. J. Malone. Mr. A. N. Phillips and 
Mr. H. C. Meserve organized the Stamford Post No. 3. 
Mr. W. B. Copp organized the Norwich Post No. 4. Mr. 
B. H. Matthies was assigned the district around Seymour. The 
first post organized by Mr. B. H. Matthies was his home town 
post. The meeting was held on June 24, 1919, and officers elected. 
Charter No. 10 was issued the Seymour Post. The second 
post he organized was the Beacon Falls Post No. 25. 
The meeting was held and the post organized on July 28, 1919. 
The third post he organized was the Derby Post No. 24. 
The meeting was held and the post organized July 31, 1919. 
Due to a mistake in national headquarters, Derby was given the 
number ahead of Beacon Falls. Mr. J. B. Moody organized 
Hartford Post No. 8. Under the guidance and leadership of this 
committee the Legion in Connecticut grew in five short months to 
a membership of seven thousand. On October 11, 1919, the first 
state convention was held in the Armory at Hartford. Up to this 
time thirty-four posts had been formed in Connecticut, the follow- 
ing constituting the charter posts of the state : Post No. 1, Water- 
bury; Post No. 2, Bristol; Post No. 3, Stamford; Post No. 4, 
Norwich ; Post No. 5, Waterville ; Post No. 6, New Britain ; Posts 
Nos. 7 and 8,. Hartford ; Post No. 9, New London ; Post No. 10, 
Seymour; Post No. 11, Bridgeport; Post No. 12, Norwalk; Post 
No. 13, Putnam; Post. No. 14, Eockville ; Post No. 15, Jewett City; 
Post No. 16, Shelton ; Post No. 17, Naugatuck ; Post No. 18, Essex ; 
Post No. 19, Willimantic; Post No. 20, Terryville; Post No. 21, 
Danielson; Post No. 22, Thomaston; Post No. 23, Wethersfield; 
Post No. 24, Derby; Post No. 25, Beacon Falls; Post No. 26, 

20 



The Beginning 

Stafford Springs; Post No. 27, LitcMeld; Post No. 28, New Hart- 
ford ; Post No. 29, Greenwich ; Post No. 30, Unionville ; Post No. 
31, New Milford; Post No. 32, Milford; Post No. 33, Unionville; 
Post No. 34, Plainville. 

The American Legion is an organization of the veterans, by 
the veterans, for the veterans. The Legion is made up, just as 
the army was, of men and women from all walks of life ; from the 
ex-senator to the bell boy, from the society woman to the shop- 
girl, all bound together by ties of sacrificial comradeship through 
their association in barracks and trench, on the sea and under 
the sea and wherever Uncle Sam's orders brought them together. 
The rich and the poor have an equal franchise. The principles 
of our organization are surely of sterling quality. America first, 
last and all the time, with law and order prevailing over all else. 
It is your organization and you can do practically what you will 
with it. The Legion is founded on broad principles, and as long 
as the national and state constitutions are lived up to, allows 
the local post complete home rule in its particular locality. You 
will get out of the Legion exactly what you put into it. Every- 
thing connected with the Legion is as open as the proverbial face 
on the clock. All its past accomplishments, present or future 
aims, all its history, local, state and national, are ojoen to every- 
one. There is no inner circle, no sanctum sanctorum, in The 
American Legion. It has come to stay and will be with us the 
rest of our lives. Let each man take it upon himself to do his 
best, his part in full, as he did in uniform, and all will be well. 
It has many duties to perform and many things to stay organized 
for, which are well explained in our preamble. Other duties are 
to keep in honor before the coming generation the memories of 
the men who gave their lives and to put money into our treasuries, 
national, state and local post, so that in years to come we can take 
care of some of our comrades who can no longer work and who 
have no one to take care of them. We must build homes for them. 
We must see that "The government of the people, by the people 
and for the people shall not perish from the earth." We must 
carry and conduct ourselves and our government in such manner 
that those who come after us cannot say that we failed to carry 

21 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

out the duties and principles brought upon ourselves when we 
fought to make the world safe for democracy. The American 
Legion is but in its infancy. It cannot really be called a year old 
until November 12, 1920, which is one year after the first National 
Convention adjourned. So far we have done a si3lendid work. 
We have established the desire for justice, fairness and the right 
to be heard in all our meetings. We have proved that we cannot 
be polluted from the outside, that we want clean policies and not 
politics in our organization. We have established those princi- 
ples to live up to. We have started what will be the biggest organ- 
ization in the United States if not in the world. We have proved 
that we can clear up any obstacles and all work together, whether 
it be in war, or at our meetings. It is a splendid representation 
of what this country is and should continue to be. As to what we 
shall amount to must be left for time to reveal. 

' ' We face the future dim and vast, 
And its contents to us unknown ; 
We only know by the days which are past, 
. That day by day they will be shown. 

"May we not falter at the start; 
May we have courage to fulfill 
The nobler, wiser, better part. 
And use our strength with force and skill. ' ' 

B. H. MATTHIES, 1912. 



22 



Chapter II: Minutes of the First Six 

Meetings of the State Executive 

Committee 

Minutes of the first meeting of tlie temporary state executive 
committee, of The American Legion, Connecticut Branch, held 
at tlie City Club in Hartford, Connecticut, Tuesday, June 10, 1919. 

The American Legion began to take definite form to-day when 
twelve of the fourteen men who had attended the St. Louis caucus 
met at the City Club for an all-day session. The meeting was 
called to order at 11.30 a.m., with the temporary chairman, James 
B. Moody, Jr., presiding. They signed their names to the certifi- 
cate of incorporation to be filed with the secretary of state on 
Thursday, June 12, 1919. Adopted the charter and by-laws for 
the state organization of the Legion in Connecticut, elected tem- 
porary officers^ who will hold office until the State Convention here 
in October. 

The temporary officers elected were: James B. Moody, Jr., of 
Hartford, chairman; Alfred N. Phillips, Jr., of Stamford, secre- 
tary; William J. Malone of Bristol, vice chairman; Francis W. 
Carroll of Waterbury, second vice chairman; Frank S. Butter- 
worth of New Haven, treasurer. The full personnel of the execu- 
tive committee was voted to consist of those delegates who had 
gone to the St. Louis convention, namely: James B. Moody, Jr., 
Alfred N. Phillips, Jr., Bernard H. Matthies of Seymour, Wil- 
liam J. Malone of Bristol, Walter D. Makepeace, Francis W. Car- 
roll and James S. Hurley of Waterbury, Philo C. Calhoun of 
Bridgeport, Webster D. Copp of Norwich, Morton C. Tilney of 
Essex, Paul L. Sampsell of New London, Rev. Harry C. Meserve 
of Stamford, Hiram Bingham and Frank S. Butterworth of New 
Haven, and Robert Vance of New Britain. 

"After to-day you are going to see The American Legion grow 
in this state like a mushroom," declared Mr. Moody. "We al- 

23 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

ready have received petitions for charters from local organiza- 
tions representing a total membership of nearly 3,000 men. We 
should have more than 10,000 members in Connecticut posts be- 
fore the first State Convention. ' ' 

It was decided that the dues for membership in the Legion 
should be an enrollment fee of $1 and thereafter annual dues at 
the minimum rate of two dollars ($2), payable and collectable on 
and after November 11 of each year. It was also decided that 
from the enrollment fees and dues, the state executive committee 
should have the right to call upon each post, or organization, for 
an amount not to exceed 40 per cent of the minimum amount 
collected. 

It was voted that not more than one charter be granted to any 
city in the state of less than 100,000 population and that not more 
than two charters be granted to i30sts of the Legion in cities of 
more than 100,000 population. 

The executive committee announced that they were ready to 
act upon petitions from local organizations desiring to be among 
the first posts of the Legion in the state. 

The first charter of The American Legion for Connecticut 
was granted to Waterbury after a petition signed by about 150 
names had been presented by W. I). Makepeace. This new post 
will from now on be known as Waterbury Post No. 1 of The 
American Legion. W. J. Malone spoke for Bristol, saying that 
city had an appropriation of $7,000 with which to organize a 
non-military association for all ex-service men and had withheld all 
organization because the service men in Bristol were anxious to 
organize a post of The American Legion and had really started 
their plans before the Waterbury citizens had. The charter for 
Post No. 2, to be located at Bristol, was granted on Mr. Malone 's 
recommendations. A. N. Phillips, Jr., made a plea for the next 
charter of the Legion in Connecticut, telling what Stamford had 
done since the war for the ex-service men. The charter was 
granted to Stamford, ilie title to be Stamford Post No. 3. 

Applications were also favorably received from Watertown 
and New Britain for the granting of charters and will be acted 
upon at the next meeting. Chairman Moody brought up the mat- 

24 




SOME OF THE DELEGATES 

Left to light — Robert Vance. Morton C. Tiley, Paul L. Sampsell. James B. Moody, Jr., 

B. H. Matthies, Alfred N. Phillips, Jr. 



Minutes of the First Six Meetings 

ter of Hartford posts and said the city will probably support 
two posts and that the Hartford citizens assume that they will 
be named for Major George J. Rau and Captain Arthur Locke. 

The chairman and secretary were authorized to employ any 
clerical help necessary to carry out their work for the Legion and 
it was voted that copies of the state constitution and by-laws be 
sent to the various posts in the state as suggestions for adoption 
but not to be considered obligatory. 

The chairman reported that copies of The American Legion 
Weekly would soon be ready and that the, special Fourth of 
July number could be secured by any member of the Legion 
sending their order to the secretary. 

There being no further business it was voted to adjourn, it 
being about 5.30 p.m. 

ALFEED N. PHILLIPS, 

State Secretary. 

Minutes of the second meeting of the temporary Connecticut 
state executive conunittee of The American Legion, held at the 
City Club in Hartford, Connecticut, Tuesday, July 8, 1919, at 
11.30 a.m. 

The meeting was called to order by Mr. J. B. Moody, Jr., state 
chairman. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and 
adopted officially as read. The matter of arranging hotel accom- 
modations for delegates to the Minneapolis convention was dis- 
cussed, and on motion of Mr. A. N. Phillips, Jr., Mr. B. H. 
Matthies was empowered to engage accommodations for twenty 
delegates from Connecticut, at a proper hotel in the city of Minne- 
apolis. On motion of Mr. Phillips, it was decided that the 
chairman should investigate the subject of bonding state and 
local post treasurers through The American Surety Company and 
report details, etc., of the plan at the next meeting of the executive 
committee. The following motion, made by Mr. Bingham, was 
passed : That a subconmiittee of three, composed of the chairman, 
secretary and treasurer, be empowered to procure a field secre- 
tary who shall be a member of The American Legion, and that this 
committee shall agree with him as to the amount of his compen- 

-25 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

satidns. The understanding was that the field secretary should 
be under the direction of the chairman, secretary and treasurer. 

The following- report and remarks were then made by Mr. 
Moody : 

''According to the federal census of 1910 there were in Connect- 
icut 156 cities and towns with a population of 1,000 or more. A 
careful study of draft board reports of men inducted into the ser- 
vice would indicate that the ratio of men in the service was to the 
entire population as one to ten. This would indicate that to thor- 
oughly do our work in Connecticut we should have 156 posts, each 
with a membership of not less than one hundred. 

"Up to the present time I have been in communication with 
veterans in forty-one Connecticut cities and towns. Posts have 
been established in sixteen of them, and charters already issued. 
In the remaining twenty -five places the organization work is pro- 
gressing very favorably, according to reports. 

' ' Thus, only one fourth of this field has been cultivated, as far 
as I have personal knowledge. Combined efforts should be di- 
rected to development of the remaining 116 cities and towns, with 
the view of establishing posts in each of them. 

''I have been using a map of the state, which I have marked to 
show where posts have been located, and where posts are now 
being organized. I have also had for reference a list of all cities 
and towns where the population is 1,000 or greater, where posts 
should be established. 

"The work of The American Legion in Connecticut continues 
to multiply rapidly. Our secretary, Mr. Phillips, to my knowl- 
edge, has devoted much time and money to the cause, and with 
effective results. An organization to be successful must be operat- 
ing so as to bring its every part into harmonious play. A minority 
of the parts cannot hope to successfully carry the burden of all of 
the parts. Neither can a few members of an executive committee 
accomplish the results which are to be expected of the conunittee 
as a whole. I well realize disadvantages due to geographical sepa- 
ration. I well realize that every member of this executive com- 
mittee is greatly interested in the welfare and the success of The 
American Legion in our good state." 

26 



Minutes of the First Sice Meetings 

Mr. Moody then said: "For the past two weeks I have 
given a good deal of consideration to two things : First, the future 
of The American Legion ; second, my own business affairs. 

' ' I have now come to a definite conclusion regarding both. The 
Legion's success is, I believe, positively assured. As for myself, 
I must now, at this meeting, request that this committee accept 
my resignation as chairman of the state executive committee and 
w^ar risk insurance officer. This decision has been made deliber- 
ately, gentlemen, so please do not ask me to reconsider the same. 
I have enjoyed, very much, associations with each and every mem- 
ber of this committee, and I hope and expect to see you do your 
part toward making the Legion a great, powerful, national organi- 
zation. Mr. Chairman, I request that you now call for nomina- 
tions to fill the two positions I must vacate." 

On motion of Mr. Phillips, Mr. Moody's resignation was ac- 
cepted. On motion of Mr. Bingham, Mr. Malone was nominated 
as chairman, but declined. On motion of Mr. Malone, Mr. Bing- 
ham was nominated as chairman, but declined. On motion of Mr. 
Bingham, Mr. Phillips was nominated as chairman and accepted, 
with the provision that he be allowed to relinquish his duties as 
secretary. Mr. Phillips' resignation as secretary was accepted. 
On motion of Mr. Phillips, Mr. Sampsell was nominated as sec- 
retary, but declined, followed by a like action from Mr. Bingham. 
On motion of Mr. Bingham, Mr. Malone was elected secretary and 
he accepted the office. The committee then recessed for lunch. 
Reconvening, Mr. Phillips made the motion to empower the treas- 
urer to immediately call on local posts for 40 per cent of their 
dues and enrollment fees combined. On motion of Mr. Matthies, 
it was decided to table the discussion of the relative merits of 
allowing or not allowing women's posts in Connecticut. On 
motion of Mr. Bingham, the appointing of the state war risk 
officer was left to the aforementioned committee of three. Mr. 
Malone resigned his position as vice chairman and his resignation 
was accepted. On motion of Mr. Phillips, Mr. Sampsell succeeded 
him. On motion of Mr. Bingham, the chairman was empowered 
to appoint a committee of three, composed of secretary and two 
others, to take charge of convention plans, badges, etc. The chair- 

27 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

man appointed the following committee: Mr. Malone, chairman, 
Mr. Moody and Mr. Hurley. 

It was determined to hold the next meeting of the executive 
committee on August 26, 1919, at 11.30 a.m., in the governor's 
room of the Hartford City Club. 

There being no further business it was voted to adjourn, it 
being about 4.00 p.m. 

WILLIAM J. MALONE, 

Secretary. 

Minutes of the third meeting of the executive coromittee of 
The American Legion, Connecticut Branch, in regular monthly 
session, held at the City Club in Hartford, Connecticut, August 
26, 1919. 

The meeting was called to order at 2.00 p.m. by Chairman A. N. 
Phillips, Jr., those present being Messrs. Moody, Matthies, Car- 
roll, Vance, Sampsell, Calhoun and Hurley. Mr. Hurley was 
chosen secretary pro tem. in the absence of Secretary W. J. 
Malone, and acted in that capacity. 

Business began with the discussion of the first annual conven- 
tion of the Connecticut Branch of The American Legion. It was 
voted to hold the convention in Hartford, Saturday, October 11, 
with morning and afternoon sessions, leaving the details as to the 
procurement of meeting places, etc., to the committee appointed 
for that purpose at the state executive committee meeting held in 
July. 

On motion of Mr. Calhoun, it was voted to waive that portion 
of Paragraph 2, Article 5, of the state constitution, which requires 
the election of delegates and alternates to the State Convention 
from the local posts according to the paid-up membership in such 
posts, thirty days before the State Convention, to mean that dele- 
gates and alternates might be elected on that basis any time prior 
to September 23, the entire matter to apply only to the year 1919. 

On motion of Mr. Moody it was voted to lend all possible as- 
sistance to Mr. G. S. Goddard, state librarian of Connecticut, in 
the issuing of the certificates of service to be given by the state to 
all ex-service men, and to call on the secretary of the state execu- 

28 



Minutes of the First Sia: Meetings 

tive committee to furnish Mr. Goddard with a list of the local 
post secretaries to whom he might mail questionnaires for the 
issuing of such certificates. 

Mr. Robert Vance of New Britain presented his resignation as 
chairman of the state publicity committee, which was accepted. 
On motion of Mr. Moody, it was voted to draft a resolution thank- 
ing Mr. Vance for the efficient manner in which he had handled 
publicity for The American Legion in the state during his office. 
Mr. Hurley was elected to fill the vacancy, and accepted. 

Mr. Moody told of the appearance of himself and Mr. Vance 
before the State Board of Control on behalf of having The Ameri- 
can Legion act as agency for the distribution of the trust fund 
created by the state for disabled soldiers, sailors and marines. 
He stated that they had succeeded in having the Board of Con- 
trol hold the matter in abeyance until after we became a perma- 
nent organization at the State Convention, October 11, 1919, and 
that they had an appointment with the board on the first Tuesday 
after the State Convention. 

On motion of Mr. Vance it was voted to appoint Mr. Hurley a 
committee of one to take charge of producing a 20-page booklet 
for the coming State Convention, the booklet to consist of nine 
pages of reading matter, nine pages of advertising and two pages 
of orders of the day. 

On motion of Mr. Hurley, speaking for Mr. Calhoun, it was 
voted to instruct the chairman to divide the state into five congres- 
sional districts, each under some designated member of the execu- 
tive committee, to be known as district organizer, with full power 
to act within his districts. 

It was voted to hold the next monthly meeting at the Hartford 
City Club on Tuesday, September 23, 1919, at 11.30 a.m., and the 
meeting adjourned on motion of Mr. Matthies, it being about 
4.30 p.m. 

JAMES S. HURLEY, 

Secretary pro tern. 

Minutes of the fourth regular meeting of the executive com- 
mittee of The American Legion, held at the City Club in Hartford, 
Connecticut, September 23, 1919. 

29 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

The meeting was called to order at 11.30 a.m. by Chairman 
A. IST. Phillips, Jr. The minutes of the last meeting were read by 
Secretary Malone, and approved as read. 

There was a general discussion of the question of paid-up 
membership up to the date of the meeting and its effect upon the 
re|)resentation in the State Convention. After the discussion the 
following vote was passed: 

That each post be permitted, but not required, to send dele- 
gates to the State Convention, on the basis of one delegate and 
one alternate for the first fifteen members, and one additional 
delegate and alternate for each additional one hundred enrolled 
members, whether paid up or not. The voting power of each post, 
however, shall be limited in accordance with its paid-up member- 
ship credited to each post on the books of the state treasurer up to 
midnight of October 8, 1919. 

Voted: That all bills due and unpaid in Connecticut be paid, 
before making any contributions to the national committee. 

Treasurer Frank S. Butterworth made a report of the finan- 
cial situation of The American Legion in Connecticut at the pres- 
ent time and described the work of his office in its efforts to raise 
funds. It was voted to accept the report of the treasurer and to 
request him to continue his good office in behalf of the Legion. 

Mr. James B. Moody, Jr., made a report with reference to the 
plans for the State Convention in Hartford, after which it was 

Voted : That he be authorized to arrange with the Rau-Locke 
Post of Hartford to care for the details of the convention to be 
held in Hartford on October 11, 1919. 

Mr. James S. Hurley, chairman of the committee on badges, 
made a report, which was accepted. 

Voted: That the secretary be instructed to prepare and pre- 
sent to the State Convention a resolution signifying. the willingness 
of The American Legion of Connecticut, through its offices and 
representatives, to assist in the administration of the fund created 
by the Legislature of 1919 for the benefit of soldiers, sailors and 
marines, and to co-operate with the State Board of Control in the 
administration thereof. 

The state librarian, Mr. Goddard, addressed the meeting with 

30 



Minutes of the First Sioc Meetings 

reference to the record of activities of Connecticut soldiers, sail- 
ors, and marines in the Great War. 

A report was made by Chairman Matthies relative to the reser- 
vation of rooms in Minneapolis, which was accepted. 

There being no further business, it was voted to adjourn, being 
about 4.15 p.m. 

"WILLIAM J. MALONE, 

Secretary. 

Minutes of the fifth meeting of the state executive commit- 
tee of The American Legion, held at the City Club in Hartford, on 
Friday, October 10, 1919, at 8.00 p.m. 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Alfred N. Phil- 
lips, Jr., of Stamford, who presided, and the minutes of the last 
meeting of the state executive committee were read by Secretary 
William J. Malone, and approved. A report by James S. Hurley 
of Waterbury, chairman of the program committee, was made, 
and announcement that copies of the program itself would be 
obtained within an hour. Mr. B. H. Matthies of Seymour re- 
ported upon reservations procured for the delegates to the Na- 
tional Coiivention at Minneapolis, which report was accepted. 
There was a discussion of the number of votes to be allowed to 
each post at the convention. After which it was 

Voted: To leave the matter exclusively in the hands of the 
committee on credentials to be assisted by the treasurer, Frank S. 
Butterworth, at the State Convention. There was also a discus- 
sion of the number of delegates to which Connecticut would be 
entitled for voting purposes at the National Convention, after 
which it was 

Voted : To defer any action on this matter until after a report 
was made by the committee on credentials at the State Conven- 
tion. Mr. Hurley, chairman of the committee on programs for 
the convention, then amplified his statements and submitted first 
copies of the program for inspection. It was voted to accept the 
report of Mr. Hurley and to pay Mr. Vennart, in recognition of 
his services in assisting Mr. Hurley, 20 per cent of the net profit 
received from the printing of the program. 

31 



Tlie American Legion in Connecticut 

Voted: That Mr. James S. Hurley be paid $50 for services 
rendered by Mm at expense to himself in conducting the drive for 
membership recently closed. 

Voted: That the previous action of the executive committee 
establishing a policy of awarding only one charter to towns under 
100,000 in population be rescinded and that charters be issued 
to posts in communities where a sufficient number of ex-service 
men or women render the assurance of such charters possible. 

Voted : To extend the thanks of the executive committee to the 
acting chairman, secretary and treasurer for the services rendered 
by them in the conduct of their respective posts. At 10.15 p.m., it 

was voted to adjourn. 

"WILLIAM J. MALONE, 

State Secretary. 

Minutes of the sixth meeting, first to be held after the State 
Convention, of the state executive committee of The American 
Legion, held in Hartford, Connecticut, on Tuesday, October 28, 
1919, at the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Club. 

The meeting was called to order at 11.30 by Chairman Philo 
C. Calhoun of Bridgeport, who presided. Reading of the minutes 
of the previous meeting was postponed imtil later. 

The following were present : 

Philo C. Calhoun, Bridgeport, 
James S. Hurley, Waterbury, 
Thomas J. Bannigan, Hartford, 
Frank S. Butterworth, New Haven, 
Albert S. Simmons, Hartford, 
J. E. Cannon, Windsor Locks, 
Morris B. Payne, New London, 
Merritt H. Learned, Meriden, 
Daniel E. B. Hickey, Stamford, 
Howard W. Curtiss, Stratford. 

Mr. Calhoun, in his opening remarks, said : 
''I fully realize that every member of this executive committee 
is greatly interested in the welfare and success of the Legion in 

32 




BADGES, ETC., WORN AT ST. LOUIS AND MINNEAPOLIS 



Minutes of the First Sioc Meetings 

our state and I anticipate the whole-liearted co-operation of every 
member in the work which is before us. ' ' 

The treasurer, Frank S. Butterworth, read a report of dis- 
bursements and collections to date, as follows: 

Advances, $1,025.00 

Receipts from posts, 3,192.00 

Receipts from convention program, 863.98 

$5,080.98 



Paid bills, to date, $1,441.30 

Check to treasurer of national com- 
mittee in New York, 1,750.00 



Total disbursed, 3,191.30 



Balance in bank, $1,889.68 

Deducting advances of, 1,025.00 



Net balance, $ 864.68 

Voted : That the report of the treasurer be accepted. 

Voted : On motion of Mr. Simmons, that the chairman appoint 
a committee of three to confer with the Connecticut State Board 
of Control and other state officials, with a view of formulating 
a plan for the disposition of the income from the $2,500,000 fund 
passed at the last session of the General Assembly for the benefit 
of the ex-service men of Connecticut, and report at the next meet- 
ing of the state executive committee. 

The chairman named the following committee : 

Frank S. Butterworth, New Haven, 
William J. Malone, Bristol, 
Morgan G. Bulkeley, Jr., Hartford. 

Voted : That the resignation of B. H. Matthies of Seymour as 
the distributor of The American Legion buttons in Connecticut 
be accepted. 

33 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

Voted: That the treasurer, Frank S. Biitterworth, handle the 
distribution of Legion buttons to posts throughout the state, for 
the time being. 

Voted: That B. H. Matthies of Seymour be elected state his- 
torian, and that he is authorized to write a history of The Ameri- 
can Legion in Connecticut. 

Mr. Bannigan, the secretary, made the following report. 

' ' Since the holding of the State Convention, temporary head- 
quarters have been established in Hartford, and necessary fur- 
nishings and stationery procured. Letters have been sent out to 
all state officers and delegates notifying them of their election and 
also requesting data for future information. Letters have been 
forwarded to all posts throughout the state asking for corrected 
names and addresses of officers, former military rank and tele- 
phone number. It is the intention of the state secretary to carry 
a list of members enrolled in each post in the state. 

Applications have been forwarded to North Grosvenordale, 
Glastonbury, Simsbury, Windsor and Darien for post charters. 

Fifteen hundred Legion buttons have been received from na- 
tional headquarters; 500 have been issued to Hartford Post, 300 
to Norwalk Post and 100 to Milford Post. 

At the present time there are fifty-one chartered posts in the 
state of Connecticut. About one half of the field in the state has 
thus far been cultivated. 

There are at least one hundred and sixteen cities and towns 
where posts of The American Legion should be established where 
the population is one thousand or greater. 

Voted : On motion of Mr. Butterworth, that the report of the 
secretary be accepted and the secretary be authorized to engage 
a stenographer to assist him in his work. 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 
3.30 p.m. 

THOMAS J. BANNIGAN, 

State Secretary. 



34 



Chapter III: First State Convention 

The first State Convention of Tlie American Legion was called 
to order at nine o'clock Saturday morning, October 11, 1919, in 
the State Armory at Hartford, Connecticut, by Alfred N. Phil- 
lips, Jr., of Stamford, temporary state chairman. Prayer was 
offered by Rev. H. C. Meserve of Stamford, formerly a chaplain 
in the army. Then followed addresses of welcome by Adjutant 
General George M. Cole and Mayor Richard J. Kinsella, which 
were listened to with interest by all the delegates. In his short 
address. General Cole declared that The American Legion would 
be the greatest organization in the United States if they would 
continue to carry on the good work. Mayor Kinsella, in welcom- 
ing the delegates to the city of Hartford, declared the Legion a 
splendid organization and there was no doubt about its future. 
In granting the keys to the Legion representatives, he said: "If 
you happen to get locked up, tell the desk sergeant that you have 
been given the keys to the city. But I know from the wonderful 
record that nothing of that sort will happen." Governor Hol- 
comb, in a communication to Chairman Phillips, regretted his 
inability to be present at the convention. There were about 250 
delegates, representing the thirty-four posts of The American 
Legion throughout the state, in attendance. There were two women 
among the delegates: Mrs. E. C. Carlson of Waterbury, repre- 
senting the Mary Grimley Post of Waterbury, and Miss Gertrude 
Sweeney, representing the Argonne Post of Rockville. Mr. A. N. 
Phillips, Jr., temporary state chairman, and Judge William J. 
Malone of Bristol, temporary secretary, were made permanent 
for the convention meeting. The chairman read the business of 
the day as printed in the program (see pages 41 and 42), after 
which the motion was made to recess and appoint delegates to the 
various committees. This was done by congressional districts, each 
electing one man for each committee. Reconvening, the chairman 
called for the nominees of the congressional districts for the com- 

35 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

mittees. Then a recess of an hour was allowed for the committee 
on credentials to determine the number of votes to which each post 
was entitled, also for the other committees to work out their parts 
and be ready to report. The convention again resumed and the 
committee reports began. It was voted by the committee on cre- 
dentials that each post be given numerical voting strength in the 
convention equal to its paid-up membership fees of one dollar each 
member, 40 per cent of which shall have been received by the state 
treasurer up to twelve o'clock noon of October 11, 1919. (For vot- 
ing strength of each post see table, pages 44 and 45.) An invita- 
tion had been extended by the Hartford delegates for all the dele- 
gates to take lunch at one of the hotels. This was exceptionally 
kind of them and was accepted with a rising vote of thanks. With 
this much of the day's business finished, the convention adjourned 
to have its picture taken and for lunch. The convention was again 
called to order at 2.30 p.m., and proceeded with business. The 
treasurer's report was called for and accepted. The committee on 
rules reported and was accepted, thus making Robert's Rules of 
Order (revised) the rules to go by, except as otherwise expressly 
provided for in the constitution. The report of the conmaittee on 
permanent organization was read and accepted. The constitution 
committee reported that they unanimously voted to reconunend 
the adoj^tion, for the time being, of the temporary form of the 
constitution which had already been printed, and suggested that 
perhaps it would be well to await the action of the national organi- 
zation before adopting a permanent one. Their recommendation 
was accepted, thus adopting the constitution until after the Na- 
tional Convention at Minneapolis in November, and until such 
time as it shall be changed by proper voting. The committee on 
permanent headquarters reported, the winning vote being for 
Hartford. The committee on the meeting place of the next annual 
convention reported and was accepted. They unanimously recom- 
mended Bridgeport, stating that New Haven and Waterbury were 
also considered. 

The convention then proceeded to the election of officers. Mr. 
Phillips was nominated, but declined, saying: 

I want to thank the delegates for the honor they have ac- 

36 



U' 



First State Convention 

corded me by giving me a nomination. Gentlemen, I want to take 
this opportunity without any qualifications to decline this nomi- 
nation at this time. I have thought the matter over and decline 
it for this reason : I think the work I have done merits the oppor- 
tunity given me at this time to say a few words ; so I will go back 
and tell you why I decline. As my friend, Mr. Meserve, has said, 
I myself did start the first operations for the army and navy 
association in Connecticut after the war. Our comrades in Stam- 
ford will tell you we were very successful, not only in forming 
associations of soldiers and sailors, but in establishing a relief 
fund and administering it to the men who needed the money. We 
started that; we formed several other posts of our organization, 
and when The American Legion came we were ready to join it. 

"I have given my time for the help of the Legion absolutely 
unselfishly. I sscy it because I hope and pray God the Legion will 
never go down or drag itself in the mud or do anything to those 
who have started this thing and have held it up, up to this time. 

"Before the St. Louis caucus I withdrew from my business, 
and gave some three or four weeks to The American Legion. Out 
of my own pocket and on my own time I organized the first post 
of The American Legion, with the help of James B. Moody, Jr., 
and since then out of my own pocket I have had these constitu- 
tions printed for the Legion. I am very glad to have done this, 
gentlemen, because I believe in the distinction of The American 
Legion. 

"And I give you my charge as I withdraw from the nomina- 
tion : Do not fall below the ideals set by this Legion. Keep it up, 
keep it up to its distinguished marks. It is from our very hearts 
that we have given. We can ask nothing less from you. 

"I feel that my work to a great extent is done, and pray God 
that those gentlemen who take hold of the helm and steer the 
ship, guide it in a clean way, all selfishness aside, striving toward 
the high ideals and leading The American Legion toward the high 
ideals it certainly merits. ' ' 

Mr. Philo C. Calhoun of Bridgeport w^as elected state chair- 
man for the ensuing year. He accepted, saying: "I appreciate 
the honor you have done me. All I can say is that in such poor 

37 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

measure as I can I shall try to deserve it." Mr. James S. Hurley 
of Waterbury was elected first vice chairman, accepting, he said : 
"Fellow members of The American Legion, Connecticut Branch, 
I am sure I appreciate deeply the honor you have accorded me and 
all I can say is that I shall strive in the future, just as hard as I 
have in the past, for the success of Connecticut." Mr. Paul L. 
Sampsell of New London was elected second vice chairman, but 
was not present at this time. Mr. Thomas J. Bannigan of Hart- 
ford was elected secretary. He responded, saying: ''Mr. Chair- 
man, ladies, gentlemen and buddies, it is an old axiom that actions 
speak louder than words and I want you to judge me by that 
slogan in the future. It has always been my privilege to take off 
my hat to the ex-service men. I want to take off my coat to assist 
you in all ]3ossible ways at all times. I thank you." Mr. Frank 
S. Butterworth was elected treasurer. Mr. Butterworth said: 
' ' Gentlemen, I am not particularly fitted for the office of treasurer, 
but I most heartily accept and I will do my best for you. Having 
been admitted as a buck private I don't seem to be able to make 
speeches, but I hope to be able to write letters which will draw 
the money for dues." The election of the state executive com- 
mittees came next, two being elected from each district, as follows : 
No. 1. Albert M. Simmons of Hartford, 

J. C. Cannon of Windsor Locks. 
No. 2. M. B. Payne of New London, 

L. F. Bissell of Rockville. 
No. 3. Hiram Bingham of New Haven, 
Merritt E. Learned of Meriden. 
No. 4. Daniel F. B. Hickey of Stamford, 

George Howard Curtiss of Stratford. 
No. 5. Francis J. Carroll of Waterbury, 
The convention was then informed that Connecticut was en- 
titled to eleven delegates to the Minneapolis National Convention 
in November. It was voted to elect two from each congressional 
district and one at large. The following were elected : 
District No. 1. Delegates. 

John T. Dunn, Jr., of Hartford, 
E. H. Hart of Wethersfield. 
38 



First State Convention 

Alternates. 

Walter Wade of Bristol, 

H. C. Jackson of New Britain. 
District No. 2. Delegates. 

W. D. Copp of Norwich, 

Heirans of Willimantic. 
Alternates. 

A. H. Crofts of Mansfield, 

John H. Moss of Bristol. 
District No. 3. Delegates. 

Frank S. Butterworth of New Haven, 

Eric S. Storm of Meriden. 
Alternates. 

Hiram Bingham of New Haven, 

John H. Bradley of Meriden. 
District No. 4. Delegates. 

J. J. Fennell of Stamford, 

James H. Rooney of Bridgeport. 
Alternates. 

Dr. F. J. Adams of Bridgeport, 

Robert Stewart of Bridgeport. 
District No. 5. Delegates. 

P. E. Fox of Derby, 

Thomas F. Martin of Waterbury. 
Alternates. 

C. V. Cross of Naugatuck, 

Mrs. E. C. Carlson of Waterbury. 

Mr. H. C. Meserve of Stamford was elected the one delegate 
at large. There were 96 ballots cast, 38 for Mr. Meserve, 35 for 
Mr. James Grant and 22 for Mr. Francis W. Pinches of New 
Britain. Mr. James Grant of Naugatuck was elected alternate. 
Mr. Albert M. Simmons of Hartford then said: ''I believe that 
this convention (the Minneapolis convention) will be one that a 
great many men in Connecticut will want to go to. I don't want 
anyone to run away with the idea that I am going to ask this 
organization to spend any money to send them there. I am not. 

-39 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

But the fact remains that we have men who will want to go to this 
convention. Perhaps men of means who would like to pay their 
own expenses and without being sent there as delegates from this 
organization may not feel disjoosed to act simply as spectators 
having no authority. I would, therefore, like to move that the 
secretary and chairman of this organization be authorized to issue 
fourteen credentials to any fourteen men who apply, as delegates 
at large from the state of Connecticut to the Minneapolis con- 
vention, signifying they will pay their own expenses. The motion 
was put to vote and carried. The resolutions committee then re- 
ported, followed by a lengthy session. Some of the resolutions 
are here given: Motion made and carried ''that hereafter every 
resolution to come before the State Convention be typewritten 
and signed, or not recognized." Mr. James S. Hurley of Water- 
bury then read these resolutions : 

''Resolved that this convention especially voice its approval 
of the resolution adopted by the temporary organization demand- 
ing an investigation of the pardon and the subsequent honorable 
discharge by the War Department of convicted so-called conscien- 
tious objectors." 

"Resolved that this convention endorse the action of the St. 
Louis caucus in demanding that congress should deport to their 
own countries those aliens who refused to join the colors at the 
outbreak of the war, and pleaded their citizenship in other coun- 
tries to escape the draft. 

"Be it further resolved that every effort be put forth to have 
laws passed to this effect that such undesirables forever be ex- 
cluded from our land. ' ' 

I make the motion to reconsider this. Our convention doesn't 
want to fail to demand the expulsion of these enemy aliens. While 
we were on the high seas it was well enough for them to stay at 
home and make money. The American Legion has decided this, 
that The American Legion or the enemy aliens have got to g^o, 
and I think we are here to stay. The motion was put to vote and 
unanimously carried. The first State Convention then ad j omened, 
it being about 5.30 p.m. WILLIAM J. MALONE, 

State Secretary. 
40 




MR. JAMES B. MOODY, JR. 
Captain, Q. M. C, with 76th Division in France. 



First State Convention 

Congressional districts include : 

1. All of Hartford County. 

2. Tolland, Windham, New London and Middlesex Coun- 

ties. 

3. Cheshire, Meriden, Wallingford, Bethany, Hamden, 

North Haven, North Bradford, Guilford, Madison, 
Woodbridge, New Haven, East Haven and Bradford 
in New Haven County. 

4. Fairfield County. 

5. Litchfield County, and towns of Southbury, Middlebury, 

Waterbury, Wolcott, Oxford, Naugatuck, Prospect, 
Beacon Falls, Seymour, Ansonia and Derby in New 
Haven County. 

Orders of the day : 

Convention assembles at 9.00 a.m. 

Called to order by temporary chairman. 

Invocation. 

Addresses of w^elcome — Mayor and Governor. 

Reading of call for convention. 

Naming of temporary chairman. 

Naming of temporary secretary. 

Naming of conmiittee on credentials. 

Recess. 

Report of committee on credentials. 

Designation of assistant secretaries and assistant sergeant- 

at-arms. 
Minutes of last convention. 
Appointment of committees in the following order : 

' ' Committee on rules. ' ' 

''Committee on permanent organization." 

' ' Committee on constitution. ' ' 

' ' Committee on resolutions. ' ' 

"Committee on nomination of officers for ensuing 
year. ' ' 

' ' Conmiittee on permanent state headquarters. ' ' 

' ' Committee on place for next annual convention. ' ' 

41 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

Announcement of time and place of committees and otHer 

meetings. 
Recess. 
Reports of committees, so far as possible, in the following 

order: 

' ' Committee on rules. " 

''Committee on permanent organization." 

"Committee on constitution." 

"Committee on resolutions." 

"Committee on nomination of officers for ensuing 
year. " 

"Committee on permanent state headquarters." 

"Committee on place of next annual convention." 

' ' Nomination for delegates to National Convention. ' ' 
Unfinished business. 
New business. 
Adjournment. 

Credential committee: 

Spokesman for Congr. Dist. No. 1: Michael F. Owens of 

Hartford. 
Spokesman for Congr. Dist. No. 2: Earl C. Herrick of 

Norwich. 
Spokesman for Congr. Dist. No. 3: Frank S. Butterworth 

of New Haven. 
Spokesman for Congr. Dist. No. 4: David A. Cronin of 

Bridgeport. 
Spokesman for Congr. Dist. No. 5: James S. Hurley of 

Waterbury. 

Committee on rules : 

Spokesman for Dist. No. 1: J. E. Cannon of Windsor 

Locks. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 2: Archibald MacDonald of 

Putnam. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 3 : David P. Smith of Meriden. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 4 : John Kehoe of Norwalk. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 5 : John Pickett. 

42 



First State Convention 
Committee on organizations: 

Spokesman for Dist. No. 1 : E. H. Hart of Wetherstield. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 2 : R. F. Gates of Willimantic. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 3 : David P. Smith of Meriden. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 4: James J. Eooney of Bridge- 
port. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 5 : B. H. MattMes of Seymour. 

Committee on constitutions : 

Spokesman for Dist. No. 1 : John L. Purcell of Hartford. 

Spokesman for Dist. No. 2 : M. P. Payne of New London. 

Spokesman for Dist. No. 3: Frank S. Butterworth of New 
Haven. 

Spokesman for Dist. No. 4: Howard Curtiss of Stratford. 

Spokesman for Dist. No. 5: W. D. Makepeace of Water- 
bury. 

Committee on resolutions : 

Spokesman for Dist. No. 1 : H. C. Jackson of New Britain. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 2 : A. H. Crofts of Tolland. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 3 : Frank S. Butterworth of New 

Haven. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 4 : John F. Moran of Bridgeport. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 5 : P. E. Fox of Derby. 

Committee on state headquarters : 

Spokesman for Dist. No. 1 : John Fagan of Bristol. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 2 : W. E. Eagle of New London. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 3 : Eric F. Storm of Meriden. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 4 : F. J. Adams of Bridgeport. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 5: J. S. Voorhoes of Derby. 

Committee on place of next annual convention : 

Spokesman for Dist. No. 1 : T. J. Brockett of IJnionville. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 2 : J. C. Broadhurst of Norwich. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 3: Merritt E. Learned of Meri- 
den. 

43 



The American Legion in Comiecticut 

Spokesman for Dist. No. 4 : George Ferree of Bridgeport. 
Spokesman for Dist. No. 5 : Francis W. Carroll of Water- 
bury. 



Waterbmy Post 


No. 


1. 


13 votes. 


Bristol Post 


No. 


2. 


2 ' 




Stamford Post 


No. 


3. 


4 ' 




Norwich Post 


No. 


4. 


2 ' 




Watertown Post 


No. 


5. 


2 - ' 




New Britain Post 


No. 


6. 


1 ' 




Hartford Post 


No. 


i\ 


14 ' 




Hartford Post 


No. 




New London Post 


No. 


9. 


4 ' 




Seymour Post 


No. 


10. 


2 ' 




Bridgeport Post 


No. 


11. 


14 ' 




Norwalk Post 


No. 


12. 


1 ' 




Putnam Post 


No. 


13. 


3 ' 




Rockville Post 


No. 


14. 


1 ' 




Griswold Post 


No. 


15. 


1 ' 




Slielton Post 


No. 


16. 


1 ' 




Naugatuck Post 


No. 


17. 


7 ' 




Essex Post 


No. 


18. 


1 ' 




Willimantic Post 


No. 


19. 


1 ' 




Terryville Post 


No. 


20. 


2 ' 




Danielson Post 


No. 


21. 


2 ' 




Thomaston Post 


No. 


22. 


1 ' 




Wethersfield Post 


No. 


23. 


2 ' 




Derby Post 


No. 


24. 


2 ' 




Beacon Palls Post 


No. 


25. 


1 ' 




Stafford Springs Post No. 


26. 


The 


treasurer 



reported that no money had been received by him from 

Stafford Springs Post. 
Litchfield Post No. 27. 1 vote. 

New Hartford Post No. 28. 1 " 

Greenwich Post No. 29. 1 '' 

New Canaan Post No. 30. 1 " 



44 



Fif^st State Convention 

New Milford Post No. 31. The treasurer 
reported that no money had been received by him from 
New Milford Post. 

Milford Post No. 32. 1 vote. 

Unionville Post No. 33. 1 '' 

Plainville Post No. 34. 1 " 



45 



Chapter IV: Constitution and By-Laws 

Constitution of The American Legion, May, 1919. 
Temporary Form of Connecticut State Constitution, 1919. 
Post Constitution and By-Laws, 1919. 
Constitution of The American Legion, November, 1919. 
State Constitution, 1920. 

Constitution of the Women's Auxiliary of The American Legion, 
1920. 



Constitution of The American Leg-ion as Adopted by 
the St. Louis Caucus, May 10, 1919 

PREAMBLE 

For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the 
following purposes: 

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States 
of America ; to maintain law and order ; to foster and perpetuate 
a one-hundred-per-cent Americanism; to preserve the memories 
and incidents of our association in the Great War ; to inculcate a 
sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation ; 
to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to 
make right the master of might ; to promote peace and good will 
on earth ; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of 
justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our 
comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. 

ARTICLE I 

Name 
The name of this organization shall be The Amekican Legion. 

46 



Constitution and By-Laws 

ARTICLE II 

MemheTship 

All persons shall be eligible to membersliip in this organization 
who were in the military or naval service of the United States 
during the period between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, 
both dates inclusive, and all persons who served in the military or 
naval services of any of the governments associated with the 
United States during the World War, provided that they were 
citizens of the United States at the time of their enlistment and are 
again citizens at the time of application, except those persons who 
separated from the service under terms amounting to dishonor- 
able discharge, and except also those persons who refused to per- 
form their military duties on the ground of conscientious or 
political obligation. 

ARTICLE III 

Nature 

While requiring that every member of the organization per- 
form his full duty as a citizen according to his own conscience and 
understanding, the organization shall be absolutely non-partisan, 
and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles, 
or for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public 
office or preferment. 

ARTICLE IV 

Administration 

1. The Legislative Body of the organization shall be a na- 
tional convention, to be held annually at a place and time to be 
fixed by vote of the preceding convention, or in the event that the 
preceding convention does not fix a time and place, then such time 
and place shall be fixed by the Executive Committee, hereinafter 
provided for. 

2. The annual convention shall be composed of delegates and 
alternates from each state, the District of Columbia, and each ter- 
ritory and territorial possession of the United States, each of 
which shall be entitled to four delegates and four alternates, and 

47 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

to one additional delegate and alternate for each one thousand 
memberships paid up thirty days prior to the date of the National 
Convention. The vote of each state, of the District of Columbia, 
and of each territory or territorial possession of the United States, 
shall be equal to the total number of delegates to which that state, 
district, territory or territorial possession is entitled. 

3. The delegates to the National Convention shall be chosen 
by each state in the manner hereinafter j^rescribed. 

4. The executive power shall be vested in a National Execu- 
tive Committee to be composed of two representatives from each 
state, the District of Columbia, territory and territorial posses- 
sions of the United States and such other ex-ofiicio members as 
may be elected by the Caucus. The National Executive Commit- 
tee shall have authority to fill any vacancies in its membership. 

ARTICLE V 

State Organization 

The state organization shall consist of that organization in 
each state, territory or the District of Columbia, whose delegates 
have been seated in the St. Louis Caucus. In those states which 
are at present unorganized the state organization shall consist of 
an Executive Committee to be chosen by a state convention and 
such other officers and committees as said convention may pre- 
scribe. The state convention in the latter case shall be called by 
the two members of the National Executive Committee in that 
state, territory and the District of Columbia, and shall choose 
the delegates to the National Convention, providing a fair repre- 
sentation for all sections of the state or territory. Each state 
organization shall receive a charter from the National Executive 
Committee. 

The officers of the State Organization shall be as follows: 

One State Commander. 
One State Vice Commander. 
One State Adjutant. 
One State Finance Officer. 
One State Historian. 

48 




MR. A. N. PHILLIPS, JR. 



Constitution and By-Laws 

ARTICLE VI 

The Local Unit 

The local Tinit shall be termed the Post, which shall have a 
niinimum membership of fifteen. No Post shall be received into 
this organization until it shall have received a charter. A Post 
desiring a charter shall apply to the State Organization and the 
charter shall be issued by. the National Executive Committee 
whenever recommended by the State Organization. The National 
Executive Committee shall not issue a charter in the name of any 
living person. 

The officers of the local organization shall be as follows : 

One Post Commander. 

One Post Vice Commander. 

One Post Adjutant. 

One Post Finance Officer. 

and such appointive officers as may be provided by the State 
Organization. 

ARTICLE VII 

Dues 
Each State Organization shall pay to the National Executive 
Committee or such officer as said committee may designate there- 
for, the sum of twenty-five cents annually, for each individual 
member in that particular state. District of Columbia, territory 
or territorial possession. 

ARTICLE VIII 

Quorum 
A quorum shall exist at a national convention when there are 
present twenty-five or more states and territories partially or 
wholly represented as hereinbefore provided. 

ARTICLE IX 

Rules 
The rules of procedure at the National Convention shall be 
those set forth in Roberts' Rules of Order. (Revised.) 

49 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

ARTICLE X 

Amendment 

This Constitution is to be in force until the November Con- 
vention, when it will be ratified or amended by that Convention. 

Temporary Form of Connecticut State Constitution 
of The American L,egion 

ARTICLE I 

Name 

The name of this organization shall be Connecticut State 
Okganization of The American Legion. 

ARTICLE II 

Objects 

The objects of this organization shall be : 

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States 
of America ; to maintain law and order ; to foster and perpetuate 
a one-hundred-per-cent Americanism; to preserve the memories 
and incidents of our association in the Great War ; to inculcate a 
sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation ; 
to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to 
make right the master of might ; to promote peace and good will 
on earth ; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of 
justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our 
comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. 

ARTICLE III 

MemlyersMp 

All persons shall be eligible to membership in this organization 
who were in the military or naval service of the United States 
during the period between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, 
both dates inclusive, and all persons who served in the military 

50 



Constitution and By-Laws 

services of any of tlie governments associated with the United 
States during the "World War, provided that they were citizens 
of the United States at the time of their enlistment and who are 
again citizens at the time of application, except those persons 
separated from the service under terms amounting to dishonor- 
able discharge, and except also those persons who refused to 
perform their military duties on the ground of conscientious 
objection. Non-resiclents of this state otherwise eligible may be 
admitted to membership in the Posts of this State on the same 
basis as residents of this State. 

ARTICLE IV 

Nature 

While requiring that every member of the organization per- 
form his full duty as a citizen according to his own conscience and 
understanding, the organization shall be absolutely non-partisan, 
and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles, 
or for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public 
office or preferment. 

ARTICLE Y 

Administration 

Section 1. The Legislative Body of the organization shall be 
a State Convention to be held annually. The place and time of 
the first State Convention shall be fixed by the first State Execu- 
tive Committee and thereafter by vote of the preceding conven- 
tion. In the event that the preceding convention does not fix a 
time and place, they shall be fixed by the Executive Committee. 

Sec. 2. The annual convention shall be composed of delegates 
and alternates from each Post, each of which shall be entitled to 
one delegate and one alternate and to one additional delegate and 
one additional alternate for each one hundred members, paid up 
thirty days prior to the date of the State Convention. The vote 
of each Post shall be equal to the total number of delegates to 
which that Post is entitled. 

51 



The Aiiierican Legion in Connecticut 

Sec. 3. The delegates to the State Convention shall be chosen 
by each Post. 

Sec. 4. The executive power shall be vested in a State Execu- 
tive Committee to be composed of fifteen members, the members 
of the first Executive Committee to be the delegates to the St. 
Louis caucus, and thereafter to be elected by the State Conven- 
tion. The members of the State Executive Committee shall be 
chosen with reference to territorial location and membership of 
the Legion in their respective communities, to the end that they 
shall be representative of the entire State. The State Executive 
Coimnittee may appoint a sub-committee of three to seven mem- 
bers in addition to the State officers as ex-officio members and 
may empower such sub-committee to exercise the authority of 
the State Executive Committee between meetings of the State 
Executive Committee. The officers of the State Executive Com- 
mittee shall be a Chairman, one or more Vice Chairmen, a Secre- 
tary and a Treasurer. These officers shall be elected in the first 
instance by the State delegates to the St. Louis caucus and there- 
after by the State Convention. 

ARTICLE VI 

The Local Unit 

The local unit shall be termed the Post, which shall have a 
minimmn membership of fifteen. No Post shall be received into 
this organization until it shall have received a charter. A Post 
desiring a charter shall reply to the State organization and the 
charter will be issued by the National Executive Committee when- 
ever recommended by the State organization. The National 
Executive Committee Avill not issue a charter in the name of any 
living person. 

ARTICLE VII 

Dues 

There shall be an enrollment fee of $1.00, and thereafter the 
annual dues shall be at the rate of $2.00 per annum, payable and 
collectable on and after the first day of August of each year, and 

52 



Constitution and By-Laws 

from the enrollment fees or the dues above mentioned, the State 
Executive Committee shall have the right to call upon each local 
Post or organization for not to exceed 40 per cent of the minimum 
amount thus collected. 

ARTICLE VIII 

Quorum 

A quorum shall exist at a State Convention when a majority 
of the Posts are partially or wholly represented by duly elected 
delegates or alternates. 

ARTICLE IX 

Rules 

The rules of procedure at the State Convention shall be those 
set forth in Roberts' Rules of Order. (Revised.) 

ARTICLE X 

Amendment of Constitution 

This Constitution is to be in force until the State Convention 
to be held in October, 1919, when it will be ratified or amended by 
that Convention. 



Sug'g-ested Form of Constitution and By-Laws for a 

Post of the Connecticut State Organization 

of The American Legion 

CONSTITUTION 

ARTICLE I 

Name 
The name of this Post is the 



of The American Legion of Connecticut. (Post No. . . ) 

53 



The American Legion in Connecticut 
ARTICLE II 

Objects 

The objects of this organization shall be: 

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States 
of America ; to maintain law and order ; to foster and perpetuate 
a one-hundred-per-cent Americanism; to preserve the memories 
and incidents of our association in the Great War ; to inculcate a 
sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation ; 
to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to 
make right the master of might ; to promote peace and good will 
on earth ; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of 
justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our 
comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. 

ARTICLE III 

Nature 

While requiring that every member of the organization per- 
form his full duty as a citizen according to his own conscience and 
understanding, the organization shall be absolutely non-partisan, 
and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles, 
or for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking public 
office or preferment. 

ARTICLE IV 

Eligibility for Member ship 

All persons shall be eligible to membership in this organization 
who were in the military or naval service of the United States 
during the period between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, 
both dates inclusive, and all persons who served in the military 
services of any of the governments associated with the United 
States during the World War, provided that they were citizens 
of the United States at the time of their enlistment and who are 
again citizens at the time of application, except those persons 
separated from the service under terms amounting to dishonor- 
able discharge, and except also those persons who refused to 
perform their military duties on the ground of conscientious 

54 



Constitution and By-Laws 

objection. Non-residents of this state otherwise eligible may be 
admitted to membership in the Posts of this State on the same 
basis as residents of this State. 

ARTICLE V 

Charter Members 

Members who join this Post prior to November 11, 1919, shall 
be known as charter members. 

ARTICLE VI 

Headquarters 

This Post is located in the City (Village or Town) of : 

, County of , State of Connecticut, 

and the headquarters and principal office of this Post is situated 

and located at in the City (Village or Town) 

of , County of , State of 

Connecticut. 

(This must be a post-office address.) 

ARTICLE VII 

Amefidments 
Amendments to this Constitution may be made at any meeting 
of the Post, annual or special, by a two thirds vote of the mem- 
bers present, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been 
given in the call of the meeting. 



We, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing is a 

true and correct copy of the Constitution of 

Post of The American Legion of Connecticut (Post No. . . ) as 
adopted at a duly called and constituted meeting of said Post held 

at in the County of , and 

State of Connecticut, on the day of 

in the year one thousand nine hundred and nineteen. 



Chairman, Executive Committee. 



Secretary. 
55 



The American Legion in Connecticut 
BY-LAWS 

ARTICLE I 

Name 

Section 1. The Post existing under these by-laws is the 

Post of The American Legion of Con- 
necticut (Post No. . .). 

Sec, 2. The object of this Post is as set forth in the Constitu- 
tion. 

ARTICLE II 

Management 

Section 1. The government and management of the Post is 
entrusted to an Executive Committee of ... . members (minimmn 
of ... . members) to be known as tlie '^ Executive Committee." 

Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of 

members to be elected at a meeting of the Post called for that 
purpose, and thereafter at the annual meeting of the Post, in 
addition to the officers of the Post as ex-officio members. The 
Executive Committee shall hold office for one year or until their 
successors are chosen. 

Sec. 3. A vacancy existing in the Executive Committee from 
any cause other than the expiration of a term shall be filled by a 
majority vote of the entire committee. A person so appointed 
shall hold office for the unexpired term of the member of the 
committee whom he succeeds. 

ARTICLE III 

Powers of the Executive Committee 

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall have charge of the 
government and management of the Post and shall direct and 
control such committees as may be appointed. It shall, in con- 
formity with provisions of State and National Constitutions, have 
power to make such rules as it may elect for the admission of 
members. It shall have power to admit by ballot candidates for 
membership in the Post, a majority vote of those present being 

56 




< 
O 

H 
<1 
H 
c« 

H 

b 

w 

o 
o 



Constitution and By-Laws 

required for election. It may expel or suspend any member of 
the Post by a two thirds vote of the whole Committee for any 
violation of the by-laws or rules or for conduct improper and 
prejudicial to the welfare of the Post or The American Legion. 
But no member shall be suspended nor expelled without being 
given one week's written notice of the charges against him and 
of the time when he can, as he may elect, appear before the Com- 
mittee or submit to the Committee a written answer to such 
charges. 

Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall prescribe the rules for 
the use of Post Headquarters and any other building used by the 
Post, and may modify or revoke the same; it shall fix joenalties 
for violations of the rules and have power to enforce the same 
and also to remit such penalties. 

Sec. 3. There shall be a Chairman, one or more Vice Chair- 
men, a Secretary and Treasurer of the Executive Committee who 
shall be elected at a meeting of the Post duly called for the pur- 
pose, and thereafter at the annual meeting of the Post, and shall 
hold office for one year or until their respective successors have 
been chosen. The officers shall be ex-officio members of the Execu- 
tive Committee. The Executive Committee may appoint such 
other officers as may be required. 

Sec, 4. The Chairman of the Executive Committee, and in 
his absence the Vice Chairman, shall preside at all meetings of 
the Post and of the Executive Committee. In the event of their 
absence, such meeting may elect their presiding officer. 

Sec. 5. The Secretary shall give notice of all meetings of the 
Post and of the Executive Committee and shall keep minutes of 
such meetings. He shall conduct the correspondence and keep 
the records of the Post, including list of names, addresses and 
previous military or naval organization of the members. He shall 
furnish to the Treasurer the names of all persons elected to mem- 
bershij) and shall also advise him of all transfers or changes affect- 
ing membership. He shall notify candidates of their election. 

Sec. 6. The Treasurer shall, subject to the control of the 
Executive Committee, be charged with the collection and custody 
of the funds and securities of the Post, including all dues, and 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

shall keep its accounts and reports thereon at each regular meet- 
ing of the Executive Committee. His accounts shall be audited 
annually. He shall pay all bills when audited and approved in 
such manner as the Executive Conunittee shall prescribe. 

ARTICLE IV 

^ Membership 

Section 1. All persons shall be eligible to membership in this 
Post who are eligible to membership in The American Legion 
under the Constitution of Connecticut State Organization of The 
American Legion, including non-residents of this town or state. 

Sec. 2. Any person eligible to membership as aforesaid may 
become a member of this Post u^Don his election by the Executive 
Committee and upon signing an enrollment card for enrollment 
as a member of The American Legion. 

Sec. 3. Each candidate for membership must be proposed by 
a member of the Post. He must give his name, address and brief 
statement of his military or naval record, including organizations 
in which he has served during the World War. 

Sec. 4. If any elected candidate shall not within 30 days after 
his election pay to the Treasurer his enrollment fee of $1.00 his 
election may be declared void by the Executive Committee. 

ARTICLE V 

Dues 
There shall be an enrollment fee of $1.00, and thereafter the 
annual dues shall be at the rate of $2.00 per annum, payable and 
collectable on and after the first day of August of each year, and 
from the enrollment fees or the dues above mentioned, the State 
Executive Committee shall have the right to call upon each local 
Post or organization for not to exceed 40 per cent of the minimum 
amount thus collected. 

ARTICLE VI 

Penalties 
Section 1. A member failing to pay any amount due the Post, 
including the yearly dues, within 30 clays, shall be liable to have 

58 



Constitution and By-Laws 

his membership suspended or forfeited at a regular meeting of 
the Executive Committee. 

Sec. 2. The Post shall be entitled to representation in the 
State Organization, as hereinafter provided, only upon the basis 
of the number of members who have actually paid their dues 30 
days prior to the annual State Convention. 

ARTICLE VII 

Representation of the Post in The American Legion and Its - 

Committees 

Delegates and alternates to represent the Post at the State 
Conventions and rei^resentatives of the Post shall be elected at a 
meeting of the members of the Post, duly called for the purpose, 
by a majority vote of those present at the meeting. Meetings for 
the election of delegates and alternates shall be held at least 15 
days before the State Convention which they are to attend. 

ARTICLE VIII 

Notices 

Section 1. Every member shall furnish to the Secretary an 
address to which all notices and documents may be sent and the 
same shall be held to have been duly sent to or served upon a 
member when posted or otherwise mailed to him at the address 
so furnished. 

Sec. 2 days' previous notice shall be given of all meet- 
ings of the Post and days' previous notice of all meetings 

of the Executive Conunittee. 

ARTICLE IX 

Meetings of the Post 

Section 1. Except in 1919 there shall be an annual meeting of 
the Post during the month of September at least 15 days prior 

to the State Convention in each year at o'clock . . M., at 

Post Headquarters or such other place as the Executive Com- 
mittee may designate. If no quorum is present the presiding 
officer shall adjourn the meeting to a subsequent date. 

59 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

Sec. 2. The Chairman or a majority of the members of the 
Executive Committee shall have power to call special meetings 
of the Post at any time. 

Sec. 3. Upon the written request of members, the 

Executive Conmiittee shall call a special meeting of the Post. 

Sec. 4 per cent of the members shall constitute a 

quorum at any meeting of the Post. 

ARTICLE X 

Meetings of the Executive Committee 

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall meet once a month. 
Special meetings may be called by order of the Chairman or on 
written notice of at least members of the Executive Com- 
mittee. 

Sec. 2 members shall constitute a quorum of the 

Executive Committee. 

ARTICLE XI 

Election of Officers and Members of Executive Committee 

The officers and members of the Executive Committee shall be 
elected at each annual meeting of the Post. A majority of all the 
votes cast at such meetings shall be necessary to the election of an 
officer or member of the Committee. 

ARTICLE XII 

Rules 

Rules of procedure at meetings of the Post shall be those set 
forth in Roberts' Rules of Order (Revised), except as otherwise 
expressly provided herein. 

ARTICLE XIII 

Limitation of Liadility 

This Post can incur no obligations or liabilities of any kind 
whatsoever which shall subject to liability any other Post, sub- 
division, organization, committee or group of members of The 
American Legion. 

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Constitution and By-Laws 

AETICLE XIV 

Amendments and Alterations 

Amendments to these by-laws may be made at any meeting of 
the Post, annual or special, by a vote of tv/o thirds of the members 
present, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been 
given in the call of the meeting. 

National Constitution of The American Leg-ion, 

January, 1920 

PREAMBLE 

For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the 
following purposes : 

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States 
of America ; to maintain law and order ; to foster and perpetuate 
a one-hundred-per-cent Americanism; to preserve the memories 
and incidents of our association in the Great War ; to inculcate a 
sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation ; 
to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to 
make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will 
on earth ; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of 
justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our 
comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. 

ARTICLE I 

Name 

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be The Ameri- 
ca?^ Legion. 

ARTICLE II 

Nature 

Section 1. The American" Legion is a civilian organization; 
membership therein does not affect nor increase liability for mili- 
tary or police service. Rank does not exist in The Legion; no 

61 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

member shall be addressed by bis military or naval title in any 
convention or meeting of The Legion. 

Sec. 2. The American Legioi^ shall be absolutely non-political 
and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles 
nor for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking 
public office or preferment. No candidate for or incumbent of a 
salaried elective public office shall hold any office in The Ameei- 
CAN" Legion or in any Department or Post thereof. 

Sec. 3. Each member shall perform his full duty as a citizen 
according to his own conscience and understanding. 

ARTICLE III 

Organization 

Section 1. The American Legion shall be organized in De- 
partments and these in turn in Posts. There shall be one Depart- 
ment in each State, in the District of Columbia, and in each Ter- 
ritory of the United States. The National Executive Committee 
may establish additional Dej^artments in Territorial Possessions 
of the United States and in foreign countries. 

ARTICLE IV 

Eligibility 

Section 1. Any pe]'son shall be eligible for membership in 
The American Legion who was regularly enlisted, drafted, in- 
ducted or commissioned, and who served on active duty in the 
Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States at some time 
during the period between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, 
both dates inclusive, or who, being a citizen of the United States, 
at the time of his entry therein, served on active duty in the Naval, 
Military or Air forces of any of the Grovernments associated with 
the United States during the Great War ; provided, that no person 
shall be entitled to membership (a) who, being in the Army, Na^^ 
or Marine Corps of the United States during said period, refused 
on conscientious, political, or other grounds, to subject himself to 
military discipline or unqualified service, or (b) who, being in 

62 



Constitution and By-Laws 

STicli service, was separated therefrom under circumstances 
amounting to dishonorable discharge and has not subsequently 
been officially restored to an honorable status. 

Sec. 2. There shall be no form or class of membership except 
an active membership as herein above provided. 

AETICLE V 

Section 1. The legislative body of The Legion shall be the 
National Convention to be held annually at a time and place to 
be fixed by the preceding National Convention. 

Sec. 2. In the National Convention each Department shall be 
entitled to five delegates and one additional delegate for each 
thousand members whose current dues have been received by the 
National Treasurer thirty days prior to the meeting of said Con- 
vention; and to one alternate for each delegate. The delegates 
shall be chosen at Department Conventions to be held not less 
than two weeks before the National Convention. 

Sec. 3. Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote. The vote 
of any delegate absent and not represented by an alternate shall 
be cast by the majority of the delegates present from his Depart- 
ment. Alternates shall have all the privileges of delegates except 
that of voting. 

Sec. 4. A quorum shall exist at a National Convention when 
60 per cent of the Departments are represented as provided above. 

ARTICLE VI 

National Officers 

Section 1. The National Convention shall elect a National 
Conunander and five National Vice Commanders. No two Vice 
Commanders shall be chosen from the same Department, and no 
more than three from those who served in the Army. These offi- 
cers shall be members of the National Convention and of the 
National Executive Committee, and the Chairman and Vice 
Chairman respectively of both bodies. A Vice Commander shall, 
on request of the National Commander, act as chairman of either 
of said bodies. 

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The American Legion in Connecticut 

Sec. 2. Such officers shall serve until the adjournment of the 
succeeding National Convention and, thereafter, until their suc- 
cessors are chosen. Vacancies in these offices occurring between 
national conventions shall be filled by the National Executive 
Committee. 

Sec, 3. The National Commander shall apx^oint a National 
Adjutant. The Executive Committee shall appoint a National 
Treasurer and such officials and standing committees- as may be 
necessary, and shall authorize or approve all expenditures. All 
appointed officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the appoint- 
ing power, and all persons having the custody of funds shall give 
adequate bonds. 

ARTICLE VII 

National Executive Committee 

Section 1. Between National Conventions, the administrative 
power shall be vested in the National Executive Committee which 
shall be composed of the National Commander and Vice Com- 
manders in office, and of one representative and one alternate 
from each Department to be elected as such Department shall 
determine; provided that in 1919 the delegates to the National 
Convention shall elect the Executive Committee man and alternate 
from their respective Departments. 

Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall meet at the place of 
the National Convention within twenty-four hours after the final 
adjournment of the National Convention, and thereafter at the 
call of the National Commander. The National Conmiander shall 
call a meeting upon the written request of fifteen or more members 
of said Executive Committee. 

Sec. 3. Seven members shall constitute a quorum of the 
Executive Committee. 

ARTICLE VIII 

Departmental Organization 

Section 1. Departments shall be chartered by the National 
Executive Committee and shall be composed of the Posts within 

64 




H 
< 

X 
o 

>H 

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Ph 
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Constitution and By-Laws 

their respective areas. Each department charter shall be signed 
by the National Commander and National Adjutant. 

Sec. 2. Each Department shall have a Department Com- 
mander, a Department Adjutant, a Department Executive Com- 
mittee and such other officers as the Department shall determine. 

ARTICLE IX 

Section 1. Those who desire to form a Post shall make appli- 
cation for a charter to the Commander of the Department in which 
they reside. The charter shall be issued by the National Com- 
mander and National Adjutant upon receipt of the application 
properly executed by the charter members of the projected Post, 
but only when such application is approved by the Commander 
of the Department, or by the Department Executive Committee. 
Post charters shall be countersigned by the Commander and the 
Adjutant of the Department. 

Sec. 2. The minimum membership of a post shall be deter- 
mined by the Executive Committee of the Department in whose 
area it lies. 

Sec. 3. Each Department may prescribe the Constitution of 
its Posts. Post charters may be revoked by the Department 
Executive Committee with the apjiroval of the National Executive 
Committee. 

Sec. 4. No Post shall be named after any living person. 



ARTICLE X 

Finance 

Section 1. The revenue of The American Legion shall be de- 
rived from annual membership dues and from such other sources 
as may be approved by the National Executive Committee. 

Sec. 2. The amount of such annual dues shall be determined 
by each National Convention for the ensuing year. 

Sec. 3. The annual dues shall he collected hy each Post and 
transmitted through the department to the National Treasurer. 

65 



The American Ijegion in Connecticut 

ARTICLE XI 

Discipline 

Section 1. The National Executive Committee, after notice 
and a hearing, may suspend or revoke the charter of a Department 
which violates this Constitution or which fails adequately to dis- 
cipline any of its Posts for any such violation, and may provide 
for the government and administration of such Department dur- 
ing such suspension or upon such revocation. 

ARTICLE XII 

Change of Residence 
Section 1. Any member in good standing in a Post removing 
from his Department shall be entitled to a certificate from his 
Post stating his membership and the duration thereof. 

ARTICLE XIII 

Auxiliaries 

Section 1. The American Legion recognizes an' auxiliary or- 
ganization to be known as the "Women's Auxiliary of the Ameri- 
can Legion." 

Sec. 2. Membership in ihe auxiliary shall be limited to the 
mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of the members of The 
American Legion, and to the mothers, wives, daughters and sis- 
ters of all men and women who were in the military or naval ser- 
vice of the United States between April 6, 1917, and November 
11, 1918, and died in line of duty or after honorable discharge 
and prior to November 11, 1920. 

Sec. 3. The Auxiliary shall be governed in each Department 
of The American Legion by such rules and regulations as may be 
prescribed by the National Executive Committee and thereafter 
approved by such Department of The American Legion. 

ARTICLE XIV 

Ratification 
Section 1. All acts performed and charters heretofore granted 
by the temporary organization of The American Legion are here- 
by ratified and confirmed. 



Constitution and By-Laws 
ARTICLE XV 

Amendments 

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended at any Na- 
tional Convention by a vote of two thirds of the total authorized 
representation thereat, provided that the proposed amendment 
shall have been read at such Convention at least twenty-four hours 
before the vote thereon. 

National Incorporation 

This Constitution is adopted conformably to the Act of the 
Congress of the United States of America of date September 16, 
1919. 

Constitution of The American L^egion Department 
of Connecticut, January, 1920 

PREAMBLE 

For God and Country we associate ourselves together for the 
following xjurposes: 

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States 
of America ; to maintain law and order ; to foster and perpetuate 
a one-hundred-per-cent Americanism; to preserve the memories 
and incidents of our association in the Great War ; to inculcate a 
sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation ; 
to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses ; to 
make right the master of might ; to promote peace and good will 
on earth ; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of 
justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our 
comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. 

ARTICLE I 

Name and Location 

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Con- 
necticut Department of The American Legion. 

Sec. 2. The geographical and jurisdictional limits of this De- 

67 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

partment of Tlie American Legion shall be coterminous with the 
geographical limits of the State of Connecticut. 

ARTICLE II 

Nature 

Section 1. The Connecticut Department of The American 
Legion is a civilian organization. Membership therein does not 
affect or increase liability for military or police service. Rank 
does not exist in this organization, and no member shall be ad- 
dressed by his military or naval title in any convention or meet- 
ing thereof. 

Sec. 2. The Connecticut Department of The American Legion 
shall be absolutely non-political, and shall not be used for the dis- 
semination of partisan principles or for the promotion of the 
candidacy of any person seeking public office or preferment. No 
candidate for, or incumbent of, a salaried elective public office, 
shall hold any office in this Department or in any Post thereof. 

Sec. 3. Each member shall perform his full duty as a citizen 
according to his own conscience and understanding. 

ARTICLE III 

Organisation 

Section 1. This Department shall be organized into Posts. 
One or more Posts may be organized in any community in the 
Department. 

ARTICLE IV 

Eligibility 

Section L Any person shall be eligible for membership in the 
Connecticut Department of The American Legion who was regu- 
larly enlisted, drafted, inducted or commissioned, and who served 
on active duty in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United 
States at some time during the period between April 6, 1917, and 
November 11, 1918, both dates inclusive, or who, being a citizen of 
the United States at the time of his entry therein, served on active 

68 



Constitution and By-Laws 

duty in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of any of the Govern- 
ments associated with the United States during the Great War; 
provided, that no person shall be entitled to membership (a) who, 
being in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States 
during said period, refused, on conscientious, political, or other 
grounds, to subject himself to military discipline, or unqualified 
service, or (b) who, being in such service, was separated there- 
from under circumstances amounting to dishonorable discharge, 
and has not subsequently been officially restored to an honorable 
status. 

Sec. 2. There shall be no form or class of membership except 
an active membership as hereinafter provided. 

Sec. 3. Non-residents of the State of Connecticut otherwise 
eligible may be admitted to membership in the Posts of this State 
on the same basis as residents of said State. 

Sec. 4. Members of this organization become such only on 
being duly elected to membership in some Post thereof ; and noth- 
ing in this article shall operate to entitle any person, otherwise 
eligible, to be admitted to membership in any particular Post, 
unless .duly elected thereto in such manner as such Post shall 
lawfully prescribe. 

ARTICLE V 

Department Convention 

Section 1. The legislative body of the Department shall be 
the Department Convention to be held annually at a place to be 
fixed by the preceding Department Convention, or if not so fixed 
then by the Executive Committee, and at a time to be fixed by the 
Department Conmiander, which time shall be not less than thirty 
nor more than sixty days prior to the date fixed for the opening 
of the National Convention of The American Legion. 

Sec. 2. In any Department Convention, each Post shall be 
entitled to be represented by two delegates and two alternates, 
and by one additional delegate and one additional alternate for 
each hundred members, whose dues to the National and Depart- 
ment organizations of The American Legion have been paid at 
least thirty days prior to the opening of such Convention. Such 

69 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

delegates shall be elected by the Posts not less than fifteen days 
prior to the opening of the Department Convention. 

Sec. 3. Each delegate shall be entitled to one vote. The vote 
of any delegate absent and not represented by an alternate shall 
be cast by the majority of the delegates present from his Post. 
Alternates shall have all the privileges of delegates except that 
of voting. 

Sec. 4. A quorum shall exist at a Department Convention 
when a majority of the Posts are represented as above provided 
for. 

Sec. 5. Special conventions may be called by the Department 
Commander at anj^ time, in his discretion, and must be called at 
the request of one third of the Posts of the Department ; the time 
and place of such convention to be designated by the Department 
Commander, who shall notify all Posts thereof and of the pur- 
poses for which such convention is called, at least thirty days 
prior to the date set for the opening of such convention. 

ARTICLE VI 

Department Officers 

Section 1. The Department Convention shall elect a Depart- 
ment Commander, and two Department Vice Commanders. No 
two of such officers shall be chosen from the same Post, and no 
more than two thereof from members who served in the army. 
The Convention shall also elect a Department Adjutant, a De- 
partment Treasurer, and a Department Executive Committee of 
not less than ten nor more than fourteen members in addition to 
the other officers named in this section, all of whom shall be mem- 
bers of said committee. The Commander and Vice Commanders 
shall be the Chairman and Vice Chairmen, respectively, of the 
Department Convention and of the Department Executive Com- 
mittee. The Adjutant and Treasurer shall be the Secretary and 
Treasurer, respectively, of the Department Convention and of 
the Department Executive Committee. 

Sec. 2. Such officers shall serve until the adjournment of the 
succeeding Department Convention, and thereafter, until their 

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Constitution and By-Laws 

successors are chosen. Vacancies in these offices occurring be- 
tween Department Conventions shall be filled by the Department 
Executive Committee. 

Sec. 3. The Department Treasurer shall be bonded for such 
amount as the Executive Committee shall determine. 

ARTICLE VII 

Department Executive Committee 

Section 1. Between Department Conventions the administra- 
tive i30wer shall be vested in the Department Executive Com- 
mittee. 

Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the 
Department Coromander, and shall meet at least once every three 
months. The Department Coiomander shall call a special meet- 
ing upon the written request of four or more members of said 
Executive Committee. 

Sec. 3. Seven members shall constitute a quorum of the Exec- 
utive Committee. 

ARTICLE VIII 

Post Organization 

Section 1. Those who desire to form a Post shall make appli- 
cation to the Department Conunander, to be chartered as a Post 
of The American Legion, such application to be in such form as 
shall from time to time be prescribed by the Executive Committee. 

Sec. 2. Such application, if approved by the Department Com- 
mander, shall be forwarded to National Headquarters of The 
American Legion. Any charter issued by National Headquarters 
on the basis of such application shall be countersigned by the De- 
partment Commander and the Department Adjutant, and when 
so countersigned shall be thenceforth in full force and effect. 

Sec. 3. The minimum membership of a Post shall be fifteen. 

Sec. 4. The Department Executive Committee may prescribe 
a uniform form of By-Laws to be used by the Posts, provided that 
the same shall not conflict with any of the provisions of this Con- 
stitution, and provided further that any form of By-Laws desired 

71 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

by any particular Post, and not so conflicting, may be approved 
by the Department Executive Conmiittee. 

Sec. 5. Post charters may be revoked for cause by the Depart- 
ment Executive Committee with the approval of the National 
Executive Committee. 

Sec. 6. No Post shall be named after any living person, and 
the name of every Post shall be subject to the approval of the 
Department Commander. 

ARTICLE IX 

Finance 

Section 1. Posts shall collect an enrollment fee of $1.00 from 
each member on his election to membership, and annual dues of 
not less than $2.00 per annum per capita, such dues to be pay- 
able and collectable on and after the first day of January in each 
year ; and from the enrollment fees and from the minimum dues 
of $2.00 so collected, the Department Executive Committee may 
call upon each Post for a sum not to exceed 40 per cent of the 
amount so collected by such Post. 

Sec. 2. In addition to the enrollment fees and dues required 
by the preceding section, each Post shall provide for the assess- 
ment and collection of such dues to the national organization of 
The American Legion as may be from time to time assessed, such 
dues to be collected and paid in manner and form as shall be from 
time to time prescribed by the Department Treasurer in con- 
formity with regulations of the national organization. 

Sec. 3. The fiscal year of this Department shall be from Jan- 
uary 1 to December 31. 

Sec. 4. The Department Treasurer shall submit semi-annual 
reports of all receipts and expenditures incurred by the Depart- 
ment during the first and second six months of each fiscal year, 
such reports to be sent to the Commanders of local Posts during 
the month of July of such fiscal year and during the month of 
January following such fiscal year. 

Sec. 5. The dues payable by the local Post to the Department 
may be paid in quarterly payments during each fiscal year. 

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MR. FRANK S. BUTTERWORTH 
First Lieutenant in the Gas Service. 



Constitution and By-Laws 

Sec. 6. There shall be an auditing committee of five members 
elected by the Department Convention held annually; such com- 
mittee shall audit the accounts of the Department Treasurer and 
shall render its report to the Convention by which it was elected. 

ARTICLE X 

Change of Residence 

Section 1. Any member in good standing in a Post removing 
from the Department shall be entitled to a certificate from his 
Post stating his membership and the duration thereof. 

Sec. 2. Any member in good standing in a Post desiring trans- 
fer to another Post within this Department shall be entitled to a 
certificate as set forth in Section 1, and if acceptable to the Post 
to which he desires transfer shall be considered transferred upon 
notice sent to this Department. 

Sec. 3. The Post so transferring any member shall pay to the 
Post to which the transfer is made a transfer fee of $1.00, and any 
member so transferred shall, for purposes of Department repre- 
sentation, be regarded during the year in which the transfer is 
made, as- a member of the Post from which such member is trans- 
ferred. 

ARTICLE XI 

Auxiliaries 

Section 1. The Connecticut Department of The American 
Legion recognizes an auxiliary organization to be known as the 
''Women's Auxiliary of The American Legion." 

Sec. 2. Membership in the auxiliary shall be limited to moth- 
ers, wives, daughters and sisters of the members of the American 
Legion, and to the mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of all 
men and women wdio were in the military or naval service of the 
United States between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, and 
died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge and prior to 
November 11, 1920. 

Sec. 3. The auxiliary shall be governed by such rules and reg- 
ulations as may be prescribed by the National Executive Commit- 

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The American Legion in Connecticut 

tee of The American Legion and thereafter approved by the 
Executive Committee of this Department. 

ARTICLE XII 

Ratification of National Constitution 

Section 1, The National Constitution of The American Legion 
is hereby adopted, ratified and confirmed, and any term or pro- 
vision of any Constitution, By-Law, Resolution or vote of this 
Department or of any Post thereof, or of any committee or sub- 
division of them or any of them, which shall conflict with such 
National Constitution or any part, section or amendment thereof, 
shall be void. 

ARTICLE XIII 

Amendments 

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended at any Depart- 
ment Convention by the vote of two thirds of the total authorized 
representation thereat, provided that the proposed amendment 
shall have been presented in writing to the Department Execu- 
tive Committee at least fifteen days before the opening of the 
Convention, and a copy thereof transmitted to each Post at least 
seven days prior to such Convention. 

SUGGESTED FORM OF BY-LAWS FOR A POST 

CHAPTER I 

Name, Location, Etc. 

Section 1. The name of this Post is 

Post, No of the Connecticut Department of The American 

Legion. 

Sec. 2. This Post is located in the City of . , 

County of , State of Connecticut. 

Sec. 3. This Post is a duly organized and chartered sub-divi- 
sion of The American Legion, and as such operates under the 
National Constitution thereof and under the Constitution and 

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Constitution and By-Laws 

regulations of the Connecticut Department of The American 
Legion in so far as the same are applicable. 

CHAPTER II 

Officers 

Section 1. The officers of this Post shall be a Post Commander, 
two Post Vice Commanders, a Post Adjutant, a Post Treasurer, 
and an Executive Committee, to consist of said officers and of nine 
additional members. 

Sec. 2. All the above officers shall be elected at a meeting of 
the Post called for that purpose, and thereafter at the annual 
meeting of the Post, and shall hold office for one year or until 
their successors are chosen. 

Sec. 3. Said nine (9) members of the Executive Committee 
shall each serve for a period of three (3) years, and three (3) 
members of such Committee shall be elected at the annual meet- 
ing in each year, except that at the first election of permanent 
officers three (3) members of the Committee shall be elected for 
three (3) years, three (3) for two (2) years, and three (3) for 
one (1) year. 

Sec. 4. A vacancy existing in the Executive Committee from 
any cause other than the expiration of a term shall be filled by a 
majority vote of the entire committee. A person so appointed 
shall hold office for the unexpired term of the member of the 
committee whom he succeeds. 

CHAPTER III 

Powers of the Executive Committee 

Section 1. Between Post meetings, the administrative powers 
of the Post shall be vested in the Executive Committee ; provided, 
however, that the Executive Committee shall, in conformity with 
provisions of Department and National Constitutions, have power 
to make such rules as it may elect for the admission of members. 

Sec. 2. The Commander, Vice Commanders, Adjutant and 
Treasurer of the Post shall be, respectively, the Chairman, Vice 
Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of the Executive Committee. 

75 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

The Executive Committee may appoint such other officers as they 
may deem necessary. 

Sec. 3. The Post Commander, and in his absence one of the 
Post Vice Commanders, shall preside at all meetings of the Post 
and of the Executive Committee. In the event of their absence, 
such meeting may elect the presiding officer. 

Sec. 4. The Post Adjutant shall give notice of all meetings of 
the Post and of the Executive Committee and shall keep minutes 
of such meetings. He shall conduct the correspondence and keep 
the records of the Post, including a list of names, addresses and 
previous military or naval organizations of the members. He 
shall furnish to the Treasurer the names of all persons elected to 
membership and also advise him of all transfers or changes affect- 
ing membership. He shall notify candidates of their election to 
membership. He shall have the power to execute such contracts 
as shall be approved by the Executive Committee. 

Sec. 5. The Treasurer shall, subject to the control of the Exec- 
utive Committee, be charged with the collection and custody of 
the funds and securities of the Post, including all dues, and shall 
keep its accounts and report thereon at each regular meeting of 
the Executive Committee, and at each meeting of the Post. His 
accounts shall be audited annually. He shall pay all bills when 
audited and approved in such manner as the Executive Committee 
shall prescribe. He shall be bonded to such amount as the Execu- 
tive Committee shall require, the premium of such bond to be paid 
by the Post. 

Sec. 6. The Post Commander shall, from time to time, ap- 
point such standing committees of the Post as he may think neces- 
sary and convenient, and the chairman of such committees shall 
have all rights and privileges of members of the Executive Com- 
mittee, except the right to vote at meetings thereof. 

CHAPTER IV 

MemdersMp 

Section 1. Any person eligible to membership who shall apply 
in writing therefor on the form prescribed by the Executive Com- 

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Constitution and By-Laws 

mittee may become a miember of this Post upon Ms election by 
the Executive Committee and paying his enrollment fee. 

CHAPTER V 

Dues 

Section 1. There shall be an enrollment fee of $1.00, and there- 
after the annual dues shall be at the rate of $ ... . (not less than 
$2.00) per annum, payable and collectable on the first day of Jan- 
uary of each year, or thirty (30) days after notification of his 
election shall have been mailed to a member elected after the first 
day of January in any year ; provided, however, that any member 
elected between July 1 and December 31 in any year shall be liable 
only for the stated enrollment fee of $1.00, and one half of said 
dues in that year. 

CHAPTER VI 

Penalties 

Section 1. A member failing to pay any amount due the Post, 
including the National dues, within thirty (30) days after the 
same are. payable, may have his membership suspended or for- 
feited at a regular meeting of the Executive Committee. 

CHAPTER VII 

Representation of the Post in The American Legion and Its 

Committees 

Section 1. Delegates and alternates to represent the Post at 
the Department Conventions shall be elected at a meeting of the 
Post, duly called for the purpose, by a majority vote of those 
present at the meeting. Meetings for the election of delegates and 
alternates shall be held at least fifteen days prior to the Depart- 
ment Convention which they are to attend. 

CHAPTER VIII 

Notice 

Section 1. Two days' previous notice shall be given of all 
meetings of the Post and one day 's previous notice of all meetings 

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The American Legion in Connecticut 

of the Executive Committee, in sucli form as the Post or the 
Executive Committee shall from time to time prescribe. 

CHAPTER IX 

Meetings of the Post 

Section 1. The annual meeting of the Post shall be held on 

the (first, second, third or fourth) (insert day 

of the week desired) of December, at Post Headquarters, or such 
other place as the Executive Committee may designate. If no 
quorum is present the presiding officer shall adjourn the meeting 
to a subsequent date. 

Sec. 2. A regular meeting of the Post shall be held on the 
(first, second, third or fourth) day of each month. 

Sec. 3. The chairman or a majority of the members of the 
Executive Committee shall have power to call special meetings 
of the Post at any time. 

Sec. 4. Upon written request of members, the Post 

Adjutant shall call a special meeting of the Post. 

Sec. 5 per cent of the members (not less than ten 

members) shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Post. 

CHAPTER X 

Meetings of the Executive Committee 

Section 1. The Executiv^e Committee shall meet at least once a 
month at a time and place to be selected by the Chairman. Spe- 
cial meetings may be called by order of the Chairman or on writ- 
ten notice of at least three (3) members of the Executive Com- 
mittee. 

Sec. 2. Ten (10) members shall constitute a quorum of the 
Executive Committee. 

CHAPTER XI 

Rtiles 

Section 1. Rules of procedure at meetings of the Post and of 
the Executive Conmaittee shall be those set forth in Roberts' Rules 
of Order (Revised), except as otherwise expressly provided 
herein. 

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Constitution and By-Laws 

CHAPTER XII 

Limitation of Liability 

Section 1. This Post can incur no obligations or liabilities of 
any kind whatsoever which shall subject to liability any other 
Post, sub-division, organization, committee or group of members 
of The American Legion. 

CHAPTER XIII 

Amendments and Alterations 

Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended at any meeting of 
the Post, by a vote of two thirds of the members present, pro- 
vided notice of the proposed amendment has been given in the 
call of the meeting. 



Temporary Regulations of the National Executive 

Committee of The American Legion Governing 

Units of the Women s Auxiliary of 

The American Legion 

January, 1920 

ARTICLE I 

Objects 

Section 1. The objects of the Women's Auxiliary of The 
American Legion shall be the same as those expressed in the 
Constitution of The American Legion. 

ARTICLE II 

Name 

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be Women's 
Auxiliary of The American Legion, and each local Auxiliary Unit 

shall be known as the Women's Auxiliary Unit of 

Post, No , The American Legion, Department of . . . 

79 



Tlie American Legion in Connecticut 
ARTICLE III 

Eligibility 

Section 1. Membership in the Auxiliary shall be limited to the 
mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of the members of The 
American Legion, and to the mothers, wives, daughters and sisters 
of all men and women wdio were in the military or naval service 
of the United States at any time between April 6, 1917, and 
November 11, 1918, and who died in line of duty or after honor- 
able discharge and x^i'ior to November 11, 1920. 

ARTICLE IV 

Nature 

Section 1. The Women's Auxiliary of The American Legion 
shall be absolutely non-political and shall not be used for the dis- 
semination of partisan principles nor for the promotion of the 
candidacy of any person seeking j^ublic office or preferment. No 
candidate for or incumbent of a salaried elective public office shall 
hold any office in the Women 's Auxiliary of The American Legion. 

ARTICLE V 

Charters 

Section 1. Those who desire to form an Auxiliary Unit shall 
make application for a charter to the Commander of the Depart- 
ment in which they reside: Provided^ however, that the applica- 
tion must first be duly approved by the Post to which it is to be 
attached. The charter will be issued by the National Commander 
and National Adjutant upon receipt of the application properly 
executed and approved by the Commander of the Department or 
of the Department Executive Committee. 

Sec. 2. The charters when granted shall remain in force until 
a permanent organization is formed. 

Sec, 3. The minimum membership of the Auxiliary Unit shall 
be ten. 

80 




MR. WEBSTER D. COPP 
First Lieutenant, 301st Machine Gun Battalion, 76th Division. 



Constitution and By-Laws 
ARTICLE VI 

Officers 

Section 1. Each Auxiliary Unit shall elect a President, Vice 
President, Secretary and a Treasurer. 

Sec. 2. Each Auxiliary Unit shall have an Executive Com- 
mittee of at least three members, and the Auxiliary officers shall 
be members thereof, ex-officio. 

Sec. 3. It is recommended that the accompanying suggested 
constitution and by-laws be followed by local units. 

ARTICLE VII 

Finance 

Section 1. The revenues of the several Auxiliary Units shall 
be derived from dues and such other sources as may be determined 
by each Auxiliary Unit: Provided, however, that each Auxiliary 
Unit shall pay to the National Treasurer of The American Legion 
twenty-five cents for each member as national annual dues. 

Sec. 2. The amount of department dues shall be determined 
by each department and amount of unit determined by each 
Auxiliary Unit. 

ARTICLE VIII 

Powers 

Section 1. Each Auxiliary Unit shall be attached to a regu- 
larly chartered and active post of The American Legion. Subject 
to regulations of the National Executive Committee, each Auxil- 
iary Unit shall be an independent unit : Provided, however, that 
no Auxiliary Unit shall extend into county, state or other unifying 
organization until expressly authorized. 

Sec. 2. Each Auxiliary Unit shall be subject to such further 
regulations as the National Executive Committee or Department 
Executive Committee may provide. 

The following Constitution and By-Laws are submitted for 
the use of each Auxiliary L^nit. 

81 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

CONSTITUTION 

ARTICLE I 

Odjects 

Section 1. The objects of this organization shall be the same 
as those of The American Legion. 

ARTICLE II 

Name 

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be: Women's 

Auxiliary ITnit of Post, No , The American Legion, 

Department of 

ARTICLE III 

Eligihility 

Section 1. The mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of the 
members of The American Legion, and the mothers, wives, daugh- 
ters and sisters of all men and women who were in the military or 
naval service of the United States at some time between April 6, 
1917, and November 11, 1918, and died in line of duty, or after 
honorable discharge and prior to November 11, 1920, shall be 
eligible to membership in this Auxiliary. 

Sec. 2. There shall be no form or class of membership except 
an active membership as hereinabove provided. 

ARTICLE IV 

Nature 

Section 1. This organization shall be absolutely non-political 
and shall not be used for the dissemination of partisan principles, 
nor for the promotion of the candidacy of any person seeking pub- 
lic office or preferment. No candidate for or incumbent of a 
salaried elective public office shall hold an office in this Auxiliary. 

Sec. 2. Each member shall perform her full duty as a citizen 
according to her own conscience and understanding. 

82 



Constitution and By-Laws 

ARTICLE V 

Powers 

Section 1. This Auxiliary Unit shall be attached to 

Post, No , The American Legion, Department of , 

subject to rules and regulations of the National Executive Com- 
mittee. It shall be an independent unit : Provided, however, that 
this Auxiliary shall not extend into county, state or other unify- 
ing organizations until expressly authorized. 

ARTICLE VI 

Amendments 

Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be made at 
any meeting of the Auxiliary L^nit, annual or special, by a two- 
thirds vote of the members present: Provided notice of the pro- 
posed amendment has been given in the call of the meeting. Pro- 
vided, further, that this Constitution shall not be so amended as 
to conflict with any rules or regulations adopted by the National 
Executive Committee. 

BY-LAWS 

ARTICLE I 

Name 

Section 1. The Auxiliary existing under these By-Laws is 

the Women's Auxiliary Unit of Post, No , 

The American Legion, Department of 

ARTICLE II 

Management 

Section 1. The government and management of the Auxiliary 
Unit is entrusted to an Executive Committee of three members. 

Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall be elected at a meet- 
ing of the Auxiliary Unit called for that purpose, and thereafter 
at the annual meeting of the Auxiliary Unit ; in addition the offi- 

83 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

cers of the Auxiliary Unit shall be ex-ojjicio members. The Exec- 
utive Committee shall hold office for one year or until their suc- 
cessors are chosen. 

Sec. 3. A vacancy existing in the Executive Committee from 
any cause other than the expiration of a term shall be filled 
by a majority vote of the entire committee. A person so ap- 
pointed shall hold office for the unexpired term of the member 
of the committee whom she succeeds. 

ARTICLE III 

P Givers 

Section 1. This Auxiliary Unit shall have full power and 
authority to admit by ballot candidates for membership, a ma- 
jority vote of those present being required for election. It may 
expel or suspend any member for a violation of the by-laws, 
orders, rules, or for conduct improper and prejudicial to the 
welfare of the Auxiliary or of The American Legion. But no 
member shall be suspended or expelled without first being given 
one week's written notice of the charges made against her, and of 
the time when she may submit an answer to such charges. 

Sec. 2. If any elected candidate shall not within days 

after her election pay to the Treasurer her dues, her election shall 
be void. 

ARTICLE IV 
Officers 

Section 1. There shall be a President, one Vice President, a 
Secretary and a Treasurer of the Auxiliary Unit, who shall be 
elected at a meeting of the Auxiliary Unit duly called for the pur- 
pose, and thereafter at the annual meeting of the Auxiliary Unit, 
and shall hold office for one year or until their respective suc- 
cessors have been chosen and qualified. The officers shall be ex~ 
officio members of the Executive Committee. 

Sec. 2. The President of the Auxiliary Unit, and in her ab- 
sence the Vice President, shall preside at all meetings of the 
Auxiliary Unit and of the Executive Committee. In the event 
of their absence, such meetings may elect their jDresiding officer. 

84 



Constitution and By-Laws 

Sec. 3. The Secretary sliall give notice of all meetings of the 
Auxiliary Unit and of the Executive Committee and shall keep 
minutes of such meetings. She shall conduct the correspondence 
and keep the records of the Auxiliary Unit, including lists of the 
names and addresses of the members. She shall furnish to the 
Treasurer the names of all persons elected to membership and 
shall also advise her of all transfers or changes affecting member- 
ship. She shall notify candidates of their election. 

Sec. 4. The Treasurer shall, subject to the control of the 
Executive Committee, be charged with the collection and custody 
of the funds of the Auxiliary Unit, including all dues, and shall 
keep accounts and report thereon at each regular meeting of the 
Executive Committee. Her accounts shall be audited annually. 
She shall pay all bills when audited and approved in such man- 
ner as the Executive Committee shall prescribe. 

ARTICLE V 

Dues 

Section 1. The dues of members shall be dollars, pay- 
able in advance on the day of in each year, and 

from such dues the Treasurer shall pay the sum of twenty-five 
cents per member to the National Treasurer of The American 
Legion to defray necessary expenses of permanent organization. 

ARTICLE VI 

Penalties 

Section 1. A member failing to pay any amount due the 

Auxiliary Unit, including her dues, within days, shall have 

her membership forfeited at a regular meeting of the Auxiliary 
Unit. 

ARTICLE VII 

Notices 

Section 1. Every member shall furnish to the Secretary an 
address to which all notices and documents may be sent, and the 



The American Legion i7i Connecticut 

same shall be held to have been duly sent to or served upon a 
member when posted or otherwise mailed to her at the address 
so furnished. 

Sec. 2 days' previous notice shall be given of all 

meetings of the Auxiliary Unit, and , days' previous 

notice of all meetings of the Executive Committee. 

AETICLE VIII 

Fiscal Year 

Section 1. The fiscal year of this Auxiliary Unit shall be from 
January 1 to December 31 of each year. 

ARTICLE IX 

Meetings of Auxiliary Units 

Section 1. There shall be an annual meeting of the Auxiliary 

Unit on the day of January in each year at 

o 'clock . . M. If no quorum is present, the presiding officer shall 
adjourn the meeting to a subsequent date. 

Sec. 2. The President or a majority of the Executive Com- 
mittee shall have power to call a special meeting of the Auxiliary 
Unit. 

Sec. 3. Upon the written request of members the 

Executive Committee shall call a special meeting of the Auxiliary 
Unit. 

Sec. 4 per cent of the members shall constitute a 

quorum at any meeting of the Auxiliary Unit. 

AETICLE X 

Meetings of the Executive Committee 

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall meet once a month. 
Special meetings may be called by order of the President or on 

written notice of at least members of the Executive 

Committee. 

Sec. 2 members shall constitute a quorum of the 

Executive Committee. 

86 



Constitution and By-Laws 
ARTICLE XI 

OMigations 

Section 1. TMs Auxiliary Unit can incur no obligations or 
liabilities of any kind whatsoever which shall subject to liability 
any other Auxiliary Unit, Post, Sub-division, Department, Or- 
ganization, Committee or Group of members of the Auxiliary or 
of The American Legion. 

ARTICLE XII 

Utiles 

Section 1. The rules of procedure at meetings of the Auxiliary 
Unit shall be those set forth in Roberts' Rules of Order (Revised), 
except as otherwise expressly provided herein. 

ARTICLE XIII 

Amendments 

Section 1. Amendments to these By-Laws may be made at any 
meeting of the Auxiliary Unit, annual or special, by a two-thirds 
vote of- the members present, provided notice of the proposed 
amendment has been given in the call of the meeting. No amend- 
ments shall be made which are in conflict with any rules or regu- 
lations of the National Executive Committee. 



87 



Appendioc 



Incorporation of the Legion. 

Treasurer's Report. 

What Connecticut Has Done for Its Men. 

Description of Badges, etc. 

The Call for the St. Louis and Hartford Caucuses. 

The Call for the First State Convention. 

Besolutions Passed at State Convention. 

Incorporation of the American Leg'ion 

NATIONAL 

A GREAT victory for The American Legion was won by the passage in Congress 
of the Johnson-Walcott Bill to which the chief executive affixed his signature, 
officially incorporating The American Legion as the national organization of 
American veterans of the Great War. No other association of this kind has 
ever been thus honored by Congress in the history of the United States. This 
bill became a law on September 16, 1919. 

In addition to the advantages derived for carrying on the national business 
of The American Legion, the act of incorporation gives the youngest veterans' 
association official standing in the nation. Six months ago the founders of The 
American Legion dreamed of its possibilities in France. Incorporation over 
the signature of the President means that The American Legion has arrived — 
that it has been accepted by Congress as a potent factor in the national life 
of America. 

The original incorporators of The American Legion are the national execu- 
tive committee of thirty-four and the chairmen of all the states. District of 
Columbia and territorial possessions, and are as follows : 

[Public— No. 47— 66th Congress.] 

[H. R. 6808] 

An Act To Incorporate the American Legion. 

Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the following persons, to wit: 

88 



Appendisc 

William S. Beam, of North Carolina; Charles H. Brent, of New York; William 
H. Brown, of Connecticut; G. Edward Buxton, Jr., of Rhode Island; Bennett 
C. Clark, of Missouri ; Richard Derby, of New York ; L. H. Evridge, of Texas ; 
Milton J. Foreman, of Illinois ; Ruby D. Garrett, of Missouri ; Fred J. Griffith, 
of Oklahoma; Roy Hoifman, of Oklahoma; Fred B. Humphreys, of New Mexico; 
John W. Inzer, of Alabama; Stuart S. Janney, of Maryland; Luke Lea, of 
Tennessee ; Henry Leonard, of Colorado ; Henry D. Lindsley, of Texas ; Ogden 
L. Mills, of New York; Thomas W. Miller, of Delaware; Edward Myers, of 
Pennsylvania; Franklin D'Olier, of Pennsylvania; W. G. Price, Jr., of Penn- 
sylvania; S. A. Ritchie, of New York; Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., of New York; 
Albert A. Sprague, of Illinois; John J. Sullivan, of Washington; Dale Shaw, 
of Iowa; Daniel G. Stivers, of Montana; H. J. Turney, of Ohio; George A. 
White, of Oregon; Eric Fisher Wood, of Pennsylvania; George H. Wood, of 
Ohio ; Matliew H. Murphy, of Alabama ; Andrew P. Martin, of Arizona ; J. J. 
Harrison, of Arkansas; Henry G. Mathewson, of California; H. A. Saidy, of 
Colorado; Alfred M. Phillips, Jr., of Connecticut; George N. Davis, of Dela- 
ware; A. H. Blanding, of Florida; Walter Harris, of Georgia; E. C. Boom, of 
Idaho; George G. Seaman, of Illinois; Raymond S. Springer, of Indiana; 
Mathew A. Tinley, of Iowa ; W. A. Phares, of Kansas ; Henry De Haven Moor- 
man, of Kentucky; T. Semmes AValmsley, of Louisiana; A. L. Robinson, of 
Maine; James A. Gary, Jr., of Maryland; George C. Waldo, of Michigan; 
Harrison Fuller, of Minnesota; Alexander Fitzhugh, of Mississippi; H. C. 
Clark, of Missouri; Charles E. Pew, of Montana; John G. Maher, of Nebraska; 
J. G. Scrugham, of Nevada; Frank Knox, of New Hampshire; Hobart Brown, 
of New Jersey; Charles M. De Bremon, of New Mexico; C. K. Burgess, of 
North Carolina; Julius Baker, of North Dakota; F. C. Galbraith, of Ohio; Ross 
N. Lillard, of Oklahoma; B. J. Eivers, of Oregon; George F. Tyler, of Penn- 
sylvania ; Alexander H. Johnson, of Rhode Island ; Julius H. Walker, of South 
Carolina; M. L. Shade, of South Dakota; Roane Waring, of Tennessee; Claude 
V. Birkhead, of Texas; Wesley E. King, of Utah; Charles Francis Cocke, of 
Virginia; H. Nelson Jackson, of Vermont; Harvey I. Moss, of Washington; 
Jackson Arnold, of West Virginia ; John C. Davis, of Wisconsin ; A. H. Beach, 
of Wyoming; E. Lester Jones, of the District of Columbia; Lawrence Judd, of 
Hawaii ; Robert R. Landon, of the Philippine Islands ; and such persons as. may 
be chosen who are members of the "American Legion," an unincorporated 
patriotic society of the soldiers, sailors, and marines of the Great War of 19.17- 
1918, known as the "American Legion," and their successors, are hereby created 
and declared to be a body corporate. The name of this corporation shall be 
"The American Legion." 

Sec. 2. That said persons named in section 1 and such other persons as may 

89 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

be selected from among the membership of the American Legion, an unincor- 
porated society of the soldiers, sailors, and marines of the Great War of 1917- 
1918, are hereby authorized to meet to complete the organization of said cor- 
poration by the selection of officers, the adoption of a constitution and by-laws, 
and to do all other things necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this 
Act, at which meeting any person duly accredited as a delegate from any local 
or State organization of the existing unincorporated organization known as the 
"American Legion" shall be permitted to participate in the proceedings thereof. 

Sec. 3. That the purpose of this corporation shall be : To promote peace 
and good will among the peoples of the United States and all the nations of the 
earth ; to preserve the memories and incidents of the Great War of 1917-1918 ; 
to cement the ties of love and comradeship born of service; and to consecrate 
the efforts of its members to mutual helpfulness and service to their country. _j 

Sec. 4. That the corporation created by this act shall have the following 
powers : To have perpetual succession with power to sue and be sued in courts 
of law and equity; to receive, hold, own, use, and dispose of such real estate 
and personal property as shall be necessary for its corporate purposes ; to adopt 
a corporate seal and alter the same at pleasure ; to adopt a constitution, by-laws, 
and regulations to carry out its purposes, not inconsistent with the laws of the 
United States or of any State ; to use in carrying out the purposes of the 
corporation such emblems and badges as it may adopt; to establish and main- 
tain offices for the conduct of its business; to establish State and Territorial 
organizations and local chapter or post organizations; to publish a magazine or 
other publications, and generally to do any and all such acts and things as may 
be necessary and proper in carrying into effect the purposes of the corporation. 

Sec. 5. That no person shall be a member of this corporation unless he 
served in the naval or militarj^ service of the United States at some time during 
the period between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, both dates inclusive, 
or who, being citizens of the LTnited States at the time of enlistment, served in 
the military or naval services of any of the Governments associated with the 
United States during the Great War. 

Sec. 6. Tha,t the organization shall be non-political and, as an organization, 
shall not promote the candidacy of any person seeking public office. 

Sec. 7. That said corporation may acquire any or all the assets of the 
existing unincorporated national organization known as the ' ' American Legion ' ' 
upon discharging or satisfactorily providing for the payment and discharge of 
all its liabilities. 

Sec. 8. That said corporation and its State and local subdivisions shall have 
the sole and exclusive right to have and to use in carrying out its purposes the 
name "The American Legion." 

90 



Appendix 

Sec. 9. That the said corporation shall, on or before the 1st day of January 
in each year, make and transmit to the Congress a report of its proceedings for 
the preceding calendar year, including a full and complete report of its receipts 
and expenditures : Provided, however, That said report shall not be printed as 
public documents. 

Sec. 91/^. That as a condition precedent to the exercise of any power or 
privilege herein granted or conferred the American Legion shall file in the 
office of the secretary of state of each State the name and post-office address of 
an authorized agent in such State upon whom legal process or demands against 
the American Legion may be served. 

Sec. 10. That the right to repeal, alter, or amend this act at any time is 
hereby expressly reserved. 

Approved, September 16, 1919. 

STATE 

The executive committee in Connecticut was quick to act, so that Connecticut 
was among the very first to incorporate the Legion, if not the first. 

Articles of association were filed, June 18, 1919, in the office of the secretary 
of the state by The American Legion (Connecticut Branch) incorporated, of 
Har'tford. The articles are as follows : 

Be it knoum that we, the Subscribers, do hereby associate ourselves as a 
body politic and corporate, pursuant to the statute laws of the State of Con- 
necticut, regulating the formation and organization of corporations without 
capital stock, and the following are our Articles of Association : 

Article 1. The name of said Corporation shall be The American Legion 
{Connecticut Branch) Incorporated. 

Article 2. The purposes for which said corporation is formed are the 
following, to wit : 

To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United State of America; to 
maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred per cent 
Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the 
Great War; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, 
state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; 
to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; 
to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and 
democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to 
mutual helpfulness ; and for said purposes said Corporation is hereby authorized 
to build, furnish, equip, maintain and operate buildings or rooms with all 
appliances, equipment and appurtenances necessary for the convenience, busi- 
ness, pleasure and amusement of its members, and to do all other things that 

91 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

may be connected with or incidental to said purposes; and for said purposes 
said Corporation is empowered to take, hold, purchase, have, mortgage, possess 
and enjoy any goods, chattels or effects of whatever kind and quantity that 
may be necessary for the purposes of said Corporation, and to take, hold, pur- 
chase, lease, occupy, mortgage and possess any and all lands, buildings, rooms or 
premises that may be needed for the purposes and use of said Corporation, and 
to grant, sell, convey, dispose of and mortgage the same at pleasure. 

Article 3. The said Corporation is located in the To^vn of Hartford, in the 
County of Hartford and State of Connecticut. 

Dated at Hartford, Connecticut, this 10th day of June, 1919. 

(Names of Subscribers.) 
STATE OF CONNECTICUT 



^ „ ^^ „ ^ . ss. Hartford, June 10, 1919. 

County of Harttord 

Then and there personally appeared William J. Malone, P. L. Sampsell, 
M. C. Tiley, W. D. Copp, James B. Moody, Jr., Alfred N. Phillips, Jr., Bernard 
H. Matthies, Walter D. Makepeace, James S. Hurley, Philo C. Calhoun and 
Francis W. Carroll, signers of the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged the 
same to be their free act and deed, before me. 

CATHERINE M. FARRELL, 
Approved, June 18, 1919, Notary Public. 

Frederick L. Perry, Secretary, 
By James A. Morcaldi. 
Fee for Charter, $10, paid June 18, 1919. 

A. M. Desmore, for Secretary. 



STATE OF CONNECTICUT 

Office of the Secretary 

The foregoing is a true copy of a certificate filed in this office, and of the 
endorsement of approval thereon. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set 
my hand, and affixed the Seal of said State at 
Hartford, this 19th day of June, A. D. 1919. 

F. F. PERRY, 

Secretary. 

92 



Appendix 
Treasurer s Report 

OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER 

Dear Comrades : 

Herewith are shown the main items of receipts and expenditures as repre- 
sented in my general summary of our financial condition on February 21, 1920, 
at Hartford, including therein the expenditures in connection with two National 
Conventions, two State Conventions and a number of meetings of the state 
executive committee, attendance at national executive committee meetings and 
conferences in Washington. 



Detailed Receipts and Expenditures, American Legion, Connecticut Department 



Receipts : 

Frank S. Butterworth, advanced 

Assessments 

Hartford Convention booklet 

Buttons .... 

National dues 

Miscellaneous 

Four months' note discounted. New Haven Bank 

Expenditures : 

Expense Temporary Organization! 
and of some delegates, St. 1- 
Louis Convention J 

Publicity expense . 
Secretary's expense 
Hartford Convention booklet expense 
Bond for state treasurer . 
National treasurer, dues prior to Nat. Conv 
National Convention expense, badges, etc. . 
Delegates' expense to National Convention 
Delegates' expense to exec. com. mtg.. Wash., etc 
State executive committee expense 
State commander's expense 
State adjutant's office — equipment and operation 
State treasurer's office 
National dues, 1920 

93 



$1,000.00 
3,905.80 
1,408.98 
1,305.98 
246.00 
52.10 
4,923.17 



$ 235.77 
248.55 
479.53 
150.00 

59.75 
780.96 

25.00 
1,750.00 

43.93 

1,375.00 

194.01 

62.03 

78.10 
781.38 
161.40 
378.00 



$12,842.03 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

National treasurer, for membership cards, etc. . 5.50 

- Advanced on account of state relief fund . . 270.00 

War Eisk office 213.48 

Buttons 2,193.24 

Repayment to F. S. Butterworth at various times 1,000.00 

$10,485.64 

Balance $ 2,356.39 

The first three items under expenditures, viz., $235.77, $248.55, $479.53, are 
a part of the temporary organization expenditure, beginning last April, 1919, 
and prior to State Convention in October, 1919. 

Item of $781.38 represents $473.42 for equipment and supplies, and $307.96 
for clerical assistance. Item of $213.48 represents equipment, supplies and 
miscellaneous expense. Item of $161.40 represents a portion of supplies and 
outside stenographic expenses. Item of $1,750 represents payment Of national 
dues for representation in National Convention, November 11, 1919. 

FRANK S. BUTTERWORTH, 

State Treasurer. 



What Connecticut Has Done for Its Men 

The state is giving to each man, provided he fills out a questionnaire and 
sends it to the state librarian at Hartford, a certificate showing that he was in 
the service. This might be called a state discharge paper. A reproduction of 
this is shown facing page 120. 

The state law exempts the ex-soldier from the poll tax, also a thousand dol- 
lars on property. The latter, as contained in Section 1160 of the General 
Statutes of Connecticut, Revision of 1918, is copied as follows : 

''Property to the amount of three thousand dollars of any pensioned soldier, 
sailor or marine of the United States, who, while in service, lost a leg or arm, 
or suffered disabilities which, by the rules of the United States pension office, 
are considered equivalent to such loss; the property to the amount of three 
thousand dollars of any person, who, by reason of blindness, is unable by his 
labor to support himself and family; the property to the amount of one thou- 
sand dollars of every resident of this state who has served in the army, navy, 
marine corps or revenue marine service of the United States in time of war, and 

94 



Appendix 

received an honorable discharge therefrom ; or, lacking such amount of property 
in his own name, so much of the property of the wife of any such person as 
shall be necessary to equal said amount; and property to the amount of one 
thousand dollars of the widow resident of this state, and such exemption shall 
apply to property in any trust fund created and donated by any person who 
has served in the army, navy, marine corps or revenue marine service of the 
United States in time of war, and received an honorable discharge therefrom, 
the income from which trust fund is received by such widow, but such widow 
shall not have more than one exemption, and upon remarriage of such widow 
the exemption provided in this section shall terminate, or, if there be no such 
widow, of the widowed mother resident of this state of every person who served 
and has died either during his term of service or after receiving honorable dis- 
charge from said service ; the property to the amount of one thousand dollars 
of every resident of this state who has served in the army, navy, marine corps 
or revenue marine service of the United States in time of war and received an 
honorable discharge therefrom, or who, being a veteran of any war and retired 
from the navy, marine corps, or revenue marine service after thirty years of 
service on account of having reached the age limit prescribed by law or from 
mental or physical disability; and property to the amount of one thousand 
dollars of pensioned widows, fathers and mothers, resident of this state, of 
soldiers, sailors and marines who served in the army, navy, or marine corps or 
revenue -marine service of the United States. ' ' 

Signed G. M. COLE, 

Brig. General of Connecticut. 



Description of Badg-es, etc. 

At St. Louis everyone had the same badge. A red, white and blue ribbon 
with the word "Delegate" or "Alternate" and "Caucus of The American 
Legion, May 8-10, 1919, St. Louis," on it (see cut, facing page 32). 

Minneapolis passed out buttons and flags in plea for the November conven- 
tion. These were the ones that won the honor they were after. As time drew 
near for the Connecticut State Convention, the executive committee began to 
talk about a state badge. A committee was appointed to select badges. The 
treasury was low so it was necessary to keep the expenses down as much as 
possible. They decided on a plain button with a celluloid piece attached, for 
our state convention badge (see cut, facing page 88). 

95 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

The Connecticut National Convention delegate's badge was given the best 
the treasury could offer and so was a better badge than the State Convention 
badge. 

The state seal, the words "Connecticut Delegation" on a bar at the top. 
Fastened to this the Victory Ribbon. On the ribbon, in gold lettering, was 
printed "American Legion 1st National Convention, Minneapolis, Minn., Nov. 10, 
11, 12, 1919." From the ribbon hung The American Legion emblem (see cut, 
facing page ^Q). When the Connecticut delegates appeared at the Minneapolis 
convention with this badge, there was interest shown at once by other delegates. 
Before the convention ended the honor of having the neatest, most symmetrical 
badge had been conceded to Connecticut. Other states had their badges and 
some of them were fine, but they frankly and willingly admitted that ours was 
the best. We all appreciated this and we hope that in the future Connecticut 
will still have a fine badge for her delegates to the National Convention. 

Minneapolis was beautifully decorated for the convention and gave a hearty 
welcome to all delegates. As soon as each delegate had reported at his state 
headquarters, he received a badge given by the city of Minneapolis. These were 
beautiful. On a bar at the top, the words "First Annual Convention, Minneap- 
olis. ' ' Fastened to this a red, white and blue ribbon, and the word ' ' Delegate ' ' 
or ' ' Alternate ' ' printed on the ribbon in gold. From the ribbon hung The Amer- 
ican Legion emblem. There were also neat name plates to attach to this and a 
place to fasten them was provided. Soon after the committees had been ap- 
pointed each delegate was given a name plate with the name of the committee 
on it to add to the badge. This badge met with such hearty approval that when 
the committee on emblems met (the author was on this committee) it was 
decided to adopt the general design of this badge as the national badge (see cut, 
facing page 104). 

At a meeting of the state executive committee, it was voted to authorize Mr. 
Hurley and Mr. Vannart to issue a program for the State Convention. 

Those who saw a copy know that they made a success of it. They made 
a success of it financially, too, paying for the publication of it with enough to 
cover a compensation voted to them and still turn a goodly sum into the state 
treasury. 

The outside front cover had The American Legion emblem embossed on it 
in correct form and colors. The printing of advertisements was neatly done 
and showed care had been taken in the arrangement of them, all those of a 
town or city being together. The articles, pictures, etc., were all well arranged. 
A great deal of credit is due Mr. Hurley and Mr. Vannart and they have received 
many compliments in praise of their good work. 

96 




SPECIAL BADGE ISSUED BY STATE OF 

CONNECTICUT TO DELEGATES FOR 

MINNEAPOLIS CONVENTION 



Appendioj 
The Call for the St. Louis and Hartford Caucuses 

1. In February of this year a Temporary Committee of American officers 
serving in France was formed for the purpose of gathering together from the 
whole Army two Caucuses which should represent respectively the troops in 
France, and those who had been retained in or returned to America. 

The purpose was to take the necessary initial steps toward the formation of a 
non-partisan and non-political association of the veterans of the Great War; 
an association which shall keep alive the principles of Justice, Freedom and 
Democracy for which these veterans fought ; shall preserve to future generations 
the history and incidents of their participation in the war; and shall cement 
and perpetuate the ties of comradeship formed in service. 

2. In accordance with these ideas the Temporary Committee convened in 
Paris on March 15 a Caucus of nearly a thousand officers and men who were 
leaders of their units and who represented all the combat divisions and all 
sections of the S. 0. S. 

This Caucus approved the steps taken by the Temporary Committee, adopted 
the name American Legion, drew up a tentative constitution and appointed 
representatives to act jointly with committees which should be appointed by 
the Caucus to be held later in America. 

3. In preparation for this Caucus in America, the Temporary Committee 
first of all increased its number by the addition of some two hundred members 
representing all the States and Territories and the District of Columbia. 

4. This enlarged Temporary Committee hereby calls a Caucus to be held 
in St. Louis on the 8th, 9th and 10th of May, where representatives of officers 
and enlisted men who have been in the military or naval service of the United 
States, either here or overseas, in the war against the Central Powers will meet 
in order to discuss and formulate such tentative arrangements as will later 
result in creating a permanent national organization. 

The duties of the Caucus will be to adopt a tentative constitution, and to 
appoint an Executive Committee which will act in conjunction with the repre- 
sentatives of the Paris Caucus to make definite arrangements whereby the 
organizations of The American Legion will be perfected and whereby all officers 
and enlisted men who have served in the Military and Naval establishments of 
the United States at any time between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, 
will participate in the election of representatives to a Convention to be con- 
vened on or about November 11. This Convention will be composed of delegates 
from all States duly elected by the veterans, and will meet with full power and 
authority to adopt, modify, or reject the steps taken by the Caucus, and to take 
such further action as may be necessary. 

97 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

5. The Temporary Committee hereby invites the Governors and the Adjutant 
General of all the States of the Union to attend the Caucus as Delegates of 
Honor. 

It urges the veterans of the War to communicate with the Temporary Com- 
mitteemen from their respective States as listed below, or with the Temporary 
Secretary of their State Committee, so that in preliminary State conferences 
all may have a voice in the selection of their delegates to the St. Louis Caucus. 
Each State will send to this Caucus a number of delegates equal to twice its 
total congressional representation; alternates should also be chosen. 

In addition to the State delegates thus appointed, the Temporary Committee 
will invite representatives from patriotic or Veterans' Societies already in exist- 
ence and founded upon similar principles. 

The Temporary Committee feels that at least half the delegates should be 
enlisted men, and the American Legion will be a Society devoted to the interests 
of all American comrades of the Great War, whether they served their country 
as officers or in the ranks. 

6. The Temporary State Committee hereby calls a State Caucus to be held 
at Hartford, Conn., on ]\Iay 1, where representatives of Connecticut soldiers 
and sailors will elect delegates to the St. Louis Caucus. 

For the Hartford Caucus, the Temporary State Committee will appoint one 
representative from each senatorial district to the State who shall in turn ap- 
point one other representative, so that there shall be two representatives to the 
State Caucus from each senatorial district respectively; at least one representa- 
tive from each senatorial district having held no commission in any branch of 
the service. 

At the State Caucus, the various representatives will group themselves 
according to the congressional districts, and these various groups thus formed 
will each elect two delegates and tM^o alternates to the St. Louis Caucus. 

Funds necessary to defray expenses of its delegation to the St. Louis Caucus 
will be raised by popular subscription in each congressional district. 

7. The Temporary Committee is at present constituted as follows: 
Officers : 

Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Chairman, New York. 
Lt. Col. Bennett Clark, Vice Chairman, Missouri. 
Lt. Col. Eric Fisher Wood, Secretary, Pennsylvania. 

8. The Temporary Connecticut State Committee is at present constituted 
as follows: 

Capt. James B. Moody, Jr., Chairman, Hartford. 
Lieut. Alfred N. Phillips, Jr., Secretary, Stamford. 
Additions to Temporary Committee will be announced when made. 

98 



Appendix 
The Call for the First State Convention 

1. In April of this year a Temporary Committee of ex-service men was 
formed for the purpose of gathering together a State Caucus which should 
represent the ex-service men of the whole State. 

The purpose was to elect delegates who should go to the St. Louis national 
caucus of The American Legion and thus represent the ex-service men of 
Connecticut in founding and shaping the purposes and ideals of The American 
Legion, a non-partisan, non-political association of veterans of the Great War. 

2. In accordance with these ideas the Temporary Committee convened from 
all sections of the State, on May 1, in Hartford, Connecticut, a caucus of nearly 
seventy ex-service men, at least 50 per cent of whom held no commission in the 
Army, Navy or Marine Corps. 

This Caucus approved the steps taken by the Temporary Committee, elected 
temporary officers and chose delegates to go from Connecticut to the St. Louis 
Caucus, ten delegates and five delegates at large. 

3. After returning from the St. Louis Caucus these delegates — acting under 
the authority of the National Executive Committee of The American Legion — 
constituted themselves the first State Executive Committee of The American 
Legion in Connecticut for the purpose of establishing The American Legion in 
Connecticut, and later calling a Connecticut State Convention of The American 
Legion. 

4. The Temporary State Committee hereby calls a Convention to be held at 
9.00 a.m., October 11, on the main drill floor of the State Armory, Hartford, 
Conn., where delegates from chartered Posts of The American Legion in Con- 
necticut will meet in order to elect delegates to the National Convention of The 
American Legion and to discuss and formulate such arrangements as will result 
in creating a permanent Connecticut State prganization of The American Legion. 

The duties of the Convention will be to adopt tentative State and Post con- 
stitutions, to appoint an Executive Committee, to elect officers, to appoint dele- 
gates from The American Legion in Connecticut to the National Convention of 
The American Legion to be held in Minneapolis in November ; and to discuss any 
pertinent matters that are fitting and proper. 

5. The Temporary Committee hereby invites the Governor of the State of 
Connecticut, the Adjutant General of the State of Connecticut and the Mayor 
of the City of Hartford, Connecticut, to attend the Convention as Delegates of 
Honor. 

Each Post may send delegates to the Convention on the basis of one delegate 
and one alternate for the first fifteen members and one additional delegate and 
alternate for each additional one hundred enrolled members, whether paid up 

99 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

or not. The voting power of each Post, however, shall be limited in accordance 
with its paid-up membership, as provided for in the Constitution based upon 
the total paid-up membership credited to each Post on the books of the State 
Treasurer up to midnight, October 8, 1919. 

6. The Temporary Committee is at present constituted as follows : 

Alfred N. Phillips, Jr., Chairman, 

Francis W. Carroll, 1 „. ^, . 

T^ 1 T fM 11 f^ Vice Chairmen, 

Paul L. JSampsell, J 

William J. Malone, Secretary, 

Frank S. Butterworth, Treasurer, 

Hiram Bingham, 

Philo C. Calhoun, 

W. D. Copp, 

James S. Hurley, 

Walter D. Makepeace, 

Bernard H. Matthies, 

Harry C. Meserve, 

James B. Moody, Jr. 

Morton C. Tiley, 

Eobert Vance. 



Resolutions Passed by the Connecticut State Branch of 

The American L,egion at State Convention Held at 

Hartford, Connecticut, October 11, 1919 

Whereas, Men have been discharged from the service without due regard 
to their physical disabilities, and 

Whereas, Many men have been discharged from the service with too small 
a percentage of disability, and are thereby unable to care for themselves and 
have been obliged to accept charity in order to live. 

Therefore, he it Resolved, That the delegates from this Convention to the 
Minneapolis Convention be instructed to advocate the amendment by act of 
Congress of the present scheme of disability compensation and vocational train- 
ing to the extent that any man wounded in the service, whether receiving a 
disability or honorable discharge, shall have opportunity to apply within one 
year after leaving the service for re-examination, reclassification and inclusion 
to the benefits of vocational training and government compensation; also that 

100 



Appendix 

an emergency fund be provided to insure the prompt and full payment to any 
man whose percentage of disability shall warrant it, or who is undergoing voca- 
tional training, adequate living expenses during the time of such disability and 
training, and be it further 

Resolved, That the National Convention recommend a uniform plan of imme- 
diate State aid for disabled soldiers until such time as they are receiving ade- 
quate government compensation or are capable of self-support. 

Whereas, Many men have been discharged from the service of the United 
States to whom the $60 bonus paid under the present law has proved entirely 
inadequate even to the purchase of civilian clothes, and 

Whereas, It is the sense of this Convention that all men who served with 
the armed forces of the United States are rightfully entitled to receive from 
the government a sufficient sum to purchase a complete civilian outfit, and to 
enable them to support themselves until such time as they have regained the 
financial position which they held before the war, and 

Whereas, Many men, especially disabled men, have had to go in debt or to 
apply to charity to supply this deficiency, therefore, be it Resolved, That the 
delegates from Connecticut to the National Convention of the American Legion 
be instructed to introduce and support a resolution to the effect that the Ameri- 
can Legion request of Congress the immediate passage of legislation providing 
for additional service pay of $180 to each man and woman who served in the 
army, navy or marine corps during the World War, and an additional service 
pay of $180 to each such man or woman whose percentage of disability at the 
time of discharge amounted to 10 per cent or more of total disability. 

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be mailed to each Congressman and 
Senator from Connecticut, and to the Resolutions Committee of the National 
Convention. 

Whereas, There are in the possession of the United States Government a 
number of guns, cannon and various field pieces captured by the American forces 
in the late war, and whereas the local posts of the American Legion are now 
establishing permanent homes which would be made more attractive and signifi- 
cant of their purpose by the display of such war trophies: 

Now, therefore, he it Resolved by the Connecticut State Chapter of the Ameri- 
can Legion in Convention assembled, that suitable and proper legislation be 
effected by Act of Congress or otherwise so as to permit and authorize the dis- 
tribution of such war trophies and material to the local posts of the American 
Legion throughout the country in a fair and equitable manner. 

Whereas, The existing provisions of the so-called Government War Risk 
Insurance Act provide for the payment of the principal amount of the insurance 
policy only in installments upon the death of the insured, and 

101 



The American Legion in Connecticut 

Whereas, Such payment made in the manner now provided will in a great 
majority of cases provide inadequate compensation for the support of the 
beneficiary : 

Now, therefore, he it Resolved by the Connecticut State Branch of the Ameri- 
can Legion in Convention assembled, that the War Risk Insurance Act be 
amended so as to permit and provide for the payment of the principal of the 
Government Insurance policies in one lump sum upon the death of the insured 
if the insured shall so elect. 

Resolved, That the American Legion of the State of Connecticut in Con- 
vention assembled hereby goes on record in favor of 

1. The Red Cross Drive from November 2, 1919, to November 9, 1919. 

2. Be it further resolved that this Convention recommend to all Posts of 
the American Legion in the State of Connecticut to go into the Red Cross 100 
per cent in membership and support. 

3. Notice of this resolution to be forwarded to all posts and one to Major 
General John F. O'Ryan, Chairman American Red Cross. 

Whereas, Hartford is the capitol city of the State of Connecticut, in which 
city all public headquarters are located, it is therefore fitting that an organi- 
zation like the American I^egion should be located where it can easily get in 
touch with public officials, therefore be it 

Resolved, That the State Headquarters of the American Legion be perma- 
nently located in the City of Hartford. 

Whereas, The official publication of the American Legion will best serve 
its purpose by being placed in the hands of the Legion, and as a set subscription 
fee payable by the receiver may defeat this purpose, therefore be it 

Resolved, That the American Ijegion of Connecticut be placed on record to 
urge the National Convention to devise some way of distributing the paper free 
to the individual members of the American Legion. 

Resolved, That the Convention especially voice its approval of the resolu- 
tion adopted by the temporary organization demanding an investigation of the 
pardon and subsequent honorable discharge by the War Department of con- 
victed so-called conscientious objectors, and 

Be it further Resolved, That such investigation be urged to a proper fixing 
of responsibility through every Senator and Congressman from the State of 
Connecticut. 

Resolved, That this Convention endorse the action of the St. Louis Caucus 
in demanding that Congress should deport to their own countries those aliens 
who refused to join the colors at the outbreak of the war and pleaded their 
citizenship in other countries to escape the draft. 

Aiid he it further Resolved, That every effort be put forth to have laws 

102 



Appendix 

passed to this effect and that such undesirable types be forever excluded from 
our land. 

Resolved, That we elect a State historian, whose duties shall include the 
keeping of an accurate history and record of the progress and activities of the 
Connecticut Branch of the American Legion and the obtaining and filing of 
reports from all posts. 

Resolved, That determined effort be made to have every person who entered 
the service from this State enrolled as a member of the American Legion before 
the State Convention in 1920. 

Resolved, That Bernard H. Matthies be allowed to continue to act for the 
State in securing designs for the official seal for the Connecticut Branch of the 
American Legion, these designs to be submitted to the State Executive Com- 
mittee when ready. 

Be it further Resolved, That the State Executive Committee shall act 
promptly on these sketches or designs when submitted and select the design 
best adapted for the State seal and proceed to have cuts made. 

Resolved, That the temporary Executive Committee be authorized to pub- 
lish a history of the Connecticut Branch of the American Legion, beginning 
with the election of delegates to the St. Louis Caucus and up to and including 
the first State Convention. Be it further Resolved, That the details as to con- 
tents and publishing of this history be left to the discretion of the temporary 
Executive Committee. 

Resolved, That the Executive Committee be authorized to publish such a 
book each year after the State Convention, covering the history of the previous 
year and recording in permanent form what has been accomplished by the 
Connecticut Branch. 

Whereas, There are in this state hundreds of women who have bravely 
served and sacrificed in the World War and who are eligible and legally en- 
titled by the National Constitution of the American Legion to membership in 
the American Legion, and 

Whereas, It is desired that special provision be made to provide for the ad- 
mission of such women as members of the American Legion, 

Therefore, he it Resolved, That the State Chairman be empowered to appoint 
a committee to be composed of two women from each Congressional District of 
this State and who are eligible for membership in the American Legion, said 
committee to carry on an organized membership campaign under the direction 
of the State Executive Committee with a view toward establishing permanent 
and separate posts or amalgamation with existing posts where conditions 
warrant. 

103 



Interesting^ Facts and Comments 

Connecticut Sends 50,069 Soldiers 

Connecticut furnished 50,069 men for the United States Army during the 
Great War. This is the figure announced by Colonel Leonard P. Ayres, chief 
of the statistics branch of the general staff, who had prepared a statistical sum- 
mary of the war with Germany. 

Colonel Ayres' figures show a total army strength of 3,757,624 men, so that 
the Nutmeg State is credited with sending into the army 1.33 per cent of that 
great number. Connecticut's representation in the great army placed her 
twenty-eighth in the list of states, arranged according to the number of men 
furnished for the army. New York led, with 367,864 men, or 9.79 per cent of 
the entire army. Pennsylvania was second, with 297,891 ; Illinois third, 251,704, 
and Ohio fourth, with 200,293. 

Connecticut was second among the New England States. Massachusetts 
attained seventh place among the states, the Bay State furnishing 132,610, or 
3.53 per cent. Maine's share was 24,252, or .65 per cent; Rhode Island, 16,861 
men, .45 per cent ; New Hampshire, 14,374 men, .38 per cent, and Vermont 9,338 
men, .25 per cent. 

It is interesting to know that America 's little insular possession, Porto Rico, 
sent 16,538 men, .44 per cent, as its share, thus exceeding the number of troops 
sent by the District of Columbia and seven states of the Union. Hawaii also 
heard the call and sent into the ranks 5,644 men, .15 per cent, exceeding by 539 
the number of soldiers credited for Nevada. From the Philippines came 255 
men, .01 per cent. 

Connecticut is grouped with the states that had the lowest percentage of 
men who were drafted past the examinations. All the New England States, 
New York, Michigan, Colorado, Arizona, California and Washington were the 
group on which .50 to .59 per cent of selected service men qualified. The highest 
percentages, from seventy to eighty in each hundred, were attained by Kentucky, 
Arkansas, Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Okla- 
homa, Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming. 

Miss Mary Gormley Post, of Waterbury, is the first Women's Post of The 
American Legion to be formed in Connecticut. It is composed of about a score 
of women who were army nurses in the war, together with several yeomanettes 
and women army clerks. 

104 




CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS BADGE ISSUED BY THE CITY TO ALL DELEGATES 



Interesting Facts and Comments 

Chin Don, a young Chinese, who was born in San Francisco, was the first 
man of Chinese extraction to join Corporal Frank Coyle Post, of Waterbury. 
He is also believed to be the first of his race to have the honor of joining the 
Legion in the state. 

The Eau-Locke Post, of Hartford, is named after Major George Ran and 
Captain Arthur F. Locke, both of the 102d U. S. Infantry. Captain Locke 
was the first officer of the 102d to lay down his life for his country, and died 
valiantly in defending Seicheprey against the attack of a German raiding party. 
Major Ran was killed in action on July 25, during the Chateau-Thierry drive. 
Both officers were dearly beloved by their men and their loss was felt keenly 
throughout the entire regiment. 

Corporal Frank Coyle Post, No. 1, of Waterbury, is credited with being the 
first post of The American Legion formed in Connecticut. While there were 
several organizations of veterans in existence when the Waterbury Post organ- 
ized, the Brass City aggregation was the first one to signify its intentions of 
joining up with the Legion. 

New Haven (Conn.) Union, April 16, 1919. — The American Legion. Its 
more immediate task, as its promoters see it, is to help the members and the 
families of members who may be in need of assistance. No comrade of the 
great struggle is to feel that he is forgotten and forsaken by the comrades who 
served the same great cause. Its large and more permanent duty is to spread 
the sentiment of patriotism, to set an example of love of country and unselfish 
service, to keep blooming always in the soldier's bosom the flower of sacrifice 
that springs from every soldier's grave in France. 

Washington, D. C, June 9, 1919. 
I AM very glad to know that The American Legion is organized to preserve the 
memories of the late war, to maintain the spirit that prompted the sacrifices in 
it, and to keep high the ideals for which the members of the Legion fought, 
bled and died. 

I sincerely hope that your publication may be welcomed by all the members 
of the Legion and by all those who sympathize with its objects. 

WILLIAM H. TAFT. 

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Eternal vigilance without regard 
or fear or favor is to be the spirit of The American Legion. — Bridgeport (Conn.) 
Standard. 

We hail the Legion. Good men are at the head of the column and better 
men than those in the ranks exist nowhere in the country. — Bridgeport (Conn.) 
Standard. 

105 



The American Legion in Connecticut 
The Grand Army Greets the Leg'ion 

Omaha, Neb., June 10, 1919. 
The inauguration of the Workl's War Veterans into a Society of ''The Ameri- 
can Legion" will be an organization of wonderful and significant importance 
and influence. Four million Americans, the best blood of the land, banded 
together for a better and stronger America, will have not only a wholesome 
effect upon good citizenship, but a lasting influence upon the liberty-loving 
people of the world. It will be to the future strength and peace of the world 
what the Grand Army of the Republic has been in its loyalty and strength to 
the American Union. 

How eminently gratifying it is that we have four million young men, tried 
and true, in whose veins pulsates 100 per cent Americanism. This organization 
will be the pride of America, and the beginning of the freedom and peace of the 
world, in a degree commensurate with the spirit in which the Grand Army of 
the Republic preserved the patriotism of this country and enabled us to suc- 
cessfully fight the world's war. 

Sincerely yours, 

C. E. ADAMS, 

Commander in Chief, 

Grand Army of the Republic. 

Chaumont, France, June, 1919. 
It gives me much pleasure to extend to The American Legion my hearty good 
wishes for success on the occasion of the first issue of the official paper of the 
society of veterans of the Great War. The Legion is destined to be of tre- 
mendous value in fostering the ideals and purposes for which we fought, and 
in spreading among our people the lessons learned in the war. The American 
Legion Weekly, as the medium of communication throughout the country, will 
more closely unite the already strong bonds of comradeship among the members. 
I predict a most useful future for the Legion and the loyal support of all for 
the new weekly. 

PERSHING. 

"I wish to say in closing that on the eve of 1920 I am convinced of The 
American Legion's great strength in our state and nation. This strength will 
grow if need be to meet the needs of the country for 100 per cent Americanism. 

106 



Interesting Facts and Comments 

Our work, it seems, began almost simultaneously with the ending of hostilities, 
at that time our organization was born, and we are now confronted with great 
national problems, the solving of which will require sober thought, carefully 
laid plans, and real hard work, if we are to measure up to our ideals and the 
country's needs." — Extract from J. B. Moody's letter. 

Governor Holcomb, in a letter to James B. Moody, state chairman of the 
executive committee of The American Legion, upholds The American Legion 
and its principles and states that the state of Connecticut, having voted to create 
a fund of $2,500,000, the interest from which will be used in helping disabled 
soldiers, stands willing to lend a helping hand to her brave soldiers, sailors and 
marines. The letter follows: 

"If The American Legion is to stand for 100 per cent Americanism, I am 
heartily in sympathy with the organization and believe there is much good that 
can be done by organized efforts of the veterans of the Great War here in 
America along such lines. I further understand that The American Legion 
rises above politics by setting forth in its national constitution that the organi- 
zation shall be absolutely non-partisan and shall not be used for the dissemina- 
tion of partisan principles or for the promotion of the candidacy of any person 
seeking public office or preferment. In this you have decided wisely. 

The state of Connecticut has always actively participated in the wars of our 
country, has had to fight in the name of justice, freedom and democracy. Our 
sons have died willingly in large numbers for these principles. Your organiza- 
tion should be a factor of considerable importance." 

M. W. HOLCOMB. 



State 
Alabama, 
Arizona, 
Arkansas, 
California, 
Colorado, 
Connecticut, 
Delaware, 

District of Columbia 
Florida, 
Georgia, 
Idaho, 
Illinois, 
Indiana, 



Total Number of 
Men in Service 

79,835 

12,271 

66,035 
141,621 

40,870 

61,850 
8,624 

22,180 

38,880 

94,276 

21,624 
293,620 
120,063 



State 
Iowa, 
Kansas, 
Kentucky, 
Louisiana, 
Maine, 
Maryland, 
Massachusetts, 
Michigan, 
Minnesota, 
Mississippi, 
Missouri, 
Montana, 
Nebraska, 



Total NufYiber of 

Men in Service 

110,099 

72,298 

84,274 

73,993 

29,385 

56,702 
177,779 
154,215 
112,740 

59,742 
149,344 

40,222 

54.396 



107 



The American Legion in Connecticut 





Total Number of 




Total Number of 


State 


Me'} 


I in Service 


State 


Men in Service 


Nevada, 




5,478 


South Dakota, 


31,831 


New Hampshire, 




16,940 


Tennessee, 


83,703 


New Jersey, 




127,546 


Texas, 


181,853 


New Mexico, 




13,950 


Utah, 


20,336 


New York, 




452,409 


Vermont, 


10,987 


North Carolina, 




80,947 


Virginia, 


85,869 


North Dakota, 




27,557 


Washington, 


58,014 


Ohio, 




222,374 


West Virginia, 


59,741 


Oklahoma, 




87,392 


Wisconsin, 


112,389 


Oregon, 




37,856 


Wyoming, 


12,166 


Pennsylvania, 




340,040 








Rhode Island, 




24,450 




4,330,268 


South Carolina, 




59,502 







108 



Roster 



Bristol Post No. 2 

Irving A. Dresser, Commander 
Frank S. Merrills, Vice Commander 
William T. Leisliman, Adjutant 
Walter W. Clark, Finance Officer 
James E. Herrernan, Historian 



Adams, Harry P. 
Beach, L. Irving 
Beaucar, Fred W. 
Bigger, John H. 
Bussell, John A. 
Carlson, Paul L. 
Clapp, Arthur L. 
Clark, Benj. A. 
Clark, William W. 
Colegrove, Harold 
Cone, Harold M. 
Conlon, George F. 
DeRosier, William N. 
Dolan, John W. 
Donahue, Alfred S. 
Fletcher, Arthur F. 
Fries, William J. 
Goranson, Albert W. 
Greene, Elmer D. 
Johnson, Arthur F. 
Johnson, Edward J. 
Johnson, Kenneth W. 
Kenney, Michael F. 
Large, William J. 
Larson, Carl 0. 
Leisliman, William T. 
Linstead, Freeman A. 
MacDonnell, William M. 
Malone, William J. 



Martin, Alphonse 
McGar, Julian D. 
Miles, C. W. 
Minor, Leigh D. 
Moody, Jas. L. 
Moran, John J. 
Norton, Julian H. 
O'Connell, Joseph W. 
Pfenning, C. M. 
Rathburn, Gobson A. 
Roemer, Frank E. 
Rouleau, Philip C. 
Rucinski, Stanley 
Russell, Clifford J. 
Russell, Edward B. 
Russell, Harold E. 
Smith, Edward H. 
Spooner, Edward M. 
Sposin, Ernest 
Stewart, Leigh 
Sullivan, William B. 
Swanson, David 
Thompson, William W. 
Waldo, Eric 
Wismer, Rev. E. L. 
Wojciechiwski, Joseph 
Wood, J. Wheeler 
Wood, Richard T. 
Yale, Walter A. 



109 



The American Legion in Connecticut 



Watertown Post No. 5 

Charles S. McGowan, Commander 
"William Walton, Vice Commander 
Samuel C. Logue, Adjutant 
Wilfred Bryan, Finance Officer 
Frank Reinliold, Historian 



Asheuden, Harry 
Atwood, Lester 
Barlow, Floyde 
Barlow, Wilfred 
Bormoline, Joseph 
Brandmeyer, Louis 
Bronson, Leman 
Butler, Edward 
Damery, Harry 
Dayton, Herbert 
Dundun, William J. 
Fitzpatrick, Joseph 
Fuller, Harold 
Lewis, Albert C. 
Lindsey, Samuel 
Lockwood, Harry 
Logue, James C. 
Low, Gerald C. 
Magee, Alfred 



Magee, Harold 
McGough, Martin 
McLean, James 
Mitchell, Rev. Vinton V. 
Nagle, James 
O'Connor, John 
Olsen, Charles 
Olsen, Henry 
Oneil, Thomas 
Parker, Raymond 
Roberts, Frank 
Rogers, Howard 
Rogers, John 
Shields, Joseph J. 
Shrier, Edmond 
Skilton, Earl 
Tetro, William 
White, Fred 
Wright, Harold W. 



Bigelow, L. C. 
Brann, H. A. 
Callahan, C. 
Dalton, Geo. H. 
Ensworth, F. J. 
Hellburg, C. 
Hoar, H. J. 



New Britain Post No. 6 

W. M. Stockwell, Commander 
C. Callahan, Vice Commander 
H. C. Jackson, Adjutant 
H. A. Brann, Financial Officer 
R. C. Vance, Librarian 

Horwitz, M. 

Jackson, H. C. 

Pease, M. H. 

Smith, H. P. 
C. Squires, W. W. T. 

Stockwell, W. M. 

Traceski, F. J. 



Hopkins, William 



Vance, R. C, 



110 



Roster 



Alford, Alice V. 
Anderson, Bessie E. 
Bess, Margaret H. 
Cassidy, Katherine E. 
Cox, Marion K. 
Dextraze, Cora M. 
Donahue, Claire E. 
Egan, Margaret G. 
Fagan, Katherine F. 
Fagan, Margaret G. 
Flynn, Mrs. Bertha M. 
Freedman, Julia 
Griswold, Clara R. 
Hall, Agnes G. 
Hart, Helen A. 
Hayden, Dorothy 
Hunter, Edith 
Ketelhut, Clara A. 
Kirton, Annie Lee 
Langenberger, Flora M 
Lippmann, Carolyn F. 
Lynn, Ester M. 



Hartford Post No. 7 

A. Beryl Lenfest, Commander 
Sara E. Apter, Vice Commander 
F. Auria Secor, Adjutant 
A. Regina Martin, Treasurer 

Marsh, Gladys H. 



McCarthy, Mary C. 
McSweeney, Catherine 
Merrill, Edith E. 
Murray, Elizabeth 
Patterson, Margaret D. 
Pickett, Deborah C. 
Pratt, Jane E. 
Pur don, Annie B. 
Reilly, Agnes M. 
Riecke, Jacobina B. 
Riley, Helen M. 
Sparks, Edith Lewis 
Stark, Olive H. 
Sternberg, Julie E. 
Thompson, Edna H. 
Tuch, Lena H. 
Ulrich, Marjory L. 
Wallace, Mrs. Marion A. 
West, Pauline N. 
Winter, Selina L. 
Wood, Nellie M. 



Seymour Post No. 10 



Frank J. Ahearn, Commander 
James J. Holmes, Vice Commander 
Henry R. Chamberlin, Secretary 
Bernard H. Matthies, Treasurer 
Barry, Maurice C. Buehler, Frank 

Bassett, Sidney Burgess, Eugene 

Bice, William H. Butler, George D. 

Ill 



The America7i Legion in Connecticut 



Carlson, Frank 
Carlson, George 
Chamberlin, William B. 
Chase, George C. 
Chase, George W. 
Christianson, Ole S. 
Condon, David T. 
Crowther, William 
Dahinden, Albert S. 
Dommermuth, Rodene 
Dunham, Morton 
Ellis, Harry 
Ertlick, Samuel J. 
Fassbender, William J. 
Field, Henry D. 
Foley, John 
Foley, Thomas 
French, Carlos 
Gerth, Emil H. 
Greywatz, Ernest A. 
Harris, Charles E. 
Hildebrandt, Fred 
Johns, Richard T. 
Kalpin, John 
Klarites, Kostos 
Klarites, Samuel 
Landgren, Harry 0. 
MacEslin, Harold J. 
Matheson, Kenneth 
Maybury, Harold A. 



Mayo, Robert E., Jr. 
Mitchell, Albert J. 
Mitchell, Charles T. 
Morris, Clifford 
Morris, Percy 
Owens, Charles 
Parsons, Howard B. 
Peck, Albert A. 
Piatt, S. Henry 
Reynolds, Charles F. 
Roberts, Clarence F. 
Roberts, Fred F. 
Sauer, Adolpf A. 
Sauer, Frederick H. 
Schuppien, Oscar L. 
Sponheimer, Albert 
Teveleit, Alex 
Teveleit, Joseph 
Tilquist, August J. 
Townsend, James F. 
Tucker, George A. 
Voltz, Henry E. 
Waldron, William 
Wentworth, Alton J. 
Weymer, Howard E. 
Weymer, Seward M. 
Wheeler, John 
Wholfarth, Charles 
Woodbridge, Lawrence C. 
Wooster, Miss Ruth 



Bridgeport Post No. 11 

F. J. Adams, Chairman 

A. J. Merritt, First Vice Chairman 

J. T. L. Hubbard, Second Vice Chairman 

Richard S. Swain, Secretary 

Charles Cyrus, Treasurer 



112 




MR. B. H. MATTHIES 

Corporal, 105th Spruce Squadron. 



Roster 



Norwalk Post No. 12 

John Keogh, Commander 
Arthur G. Kelley, Adjutant 
Freeman Light, Treasurer 
Harold Winchester, Historian 

Putnam Post No. 12 

Dr. Edward F. Perry, President 
Harold S. Corbin, Vice President 
Whitman Danielson, Secretary-Treasurer 



Adams, Malcolm A. 
Allard, Raymond L. 
Allard, Robert P. 
Andem, Kenneth S. 
Archambeault, Wilfrid H. 
Arnold, Bertie E. 
Auger, Helika 
Auger, Ovila J. 
Averill, Lewis A. 
Backus, Lawrence E. 
Baker, Eoland E. 
Basto, Arthur E. 
Beaudoin, Joseph M. 
Beausoleil, Rosario J. 
Belair, Antonio A. 
Benard, Leon 
Benoit, Napoleon J., Jr* 
Benoit, Wilfred J. 
Berard, Norman J. 
Bergeron, Zephyrin 
Bernier, Alfred 
Bernklow, John R. 
Bertrand, Alfred 
Bibeault, Alfiere A. 
Blanchette, Herman 
Boisoneau, Ralph C. 
Bourgeois, Edward J. 
Brunelle, Wilfred 
Byrne, A. I., Miss 



Carroll, David 
Champeau, Frank, Jr. 
Chandler, Walter C. 
Charron, James J. 
Cheney, George E. 
CoUum, Charles L. 
Connor, James R. 
Courtemanche, Ovila 
Covell, Ellsworth L. 
Daniels, R. L., Miss 
Demers, William 
Diamond, Maurice L. 
Donahue, Charles E. 
Duchesne, Charles 
Dumas, Henry 
Forcier, Antonio P. 
Franklin, Raymond F. 
Frappier, Arsene, Jr. 
Gagne, Edmond R. 
Gagne, Joseph 0. 
Gahan, John W. 
Gallup, Arthur M. 
Geissler, Roy S. 
Giard, Lucien 
Gibney, Richard E. 
Gibson, Ralph M. 
Gifford, Harry A. 
Gilbo, Alfred L. 
Greene, Fred B. 



113 



The American Legion in Connecticut 



Greene, Wilton G. 
Gregoire, Albert J. 
Guertin, Ovila J. 
Hall, Durham J. 
Henries, Charles S. 
Hopkins, Earl C. 
James, Clarence B. 
James, Howard W. 
Jarvis, "William J. 
Jodoin, Henry 
Johnson, Donald C. 
Johnson, Harry F. 
Keily, Vincent C. 
Kilborn, George W. 
Klebart, Mark F. 
Lafontaine, Joseph A. 
Lambert, Henry J. 
Lariviere, William 
Lebeau, Everiste 
Leclair, Frank 
LeDoux, Norbert 
Macdonald, Archibald 
Maher, James W. 
Maynard, Arthur 
McCulloch, Fred W. 
McEvoy, Vincent 
McKenzie, Dalbert 
McNally, Iscah K. 
Merrill, Boynton 
Millier, Eugene 
Moore, Francis J. 
Moore, Raymond H. 
Moss, John H. 
Murray, James E. 
Nelson, Harold J. 
Nelson, Herbert E. 
Nelson, Martin A. 
Newton, Richard G. 
O'Neill, James F. 
Perry, Edward J. 



Perry, Gilbert F. 
Pion, Mathias 
Piatt, John C. 
Provencal, Arthur 
Renfrett, Howard 
Richardson, Ernest E. 
Robitaille, Omer 
Ryan, Charles A. 
Ryan, John T. 
Sandstrom, Oscar N. 
Saretzki, William 
Sharpe, Kenneth C. 
Shaw, Clarence M. 
Shaw, George S. 
Simonzi, John F. 
Stoumbelis, Harry S. 
Student, Jan Alexander 
Talbot, Leon W. 
Tetreault, Albert 
Tetreault, Walter 
Thompson, E. W., Miss 
Trahan, Clifford V. 
Vadnais, Francois 
Warner, John A. C. 
Warren, Mark F. 
Warren, Norman E. 
Watson, Leonard H. 
Webster, Clarence G. 
Weeks, Carl E. 
Weeks, Daniel J. 
Welch, John J. 
Wells, Harry E. 
West, Frederic A. 
White, Clifford 
White, Michael L. 
White, Owen J. 
Wilcox, Byron F. 
Willey, Malcolm M. 
Williams, Alfred M. 
Wright, John L. 



114 



Roster 



Batz, Charles 
Bissell, Lebbeus 
Church, Elmer 
Crossett, Sidney 
Frey, Arthur 
Gworek, Jacob 
Hanawald, Albert 
Lathrop, Perry 
Liebe, Milton 
Mead, Nelson 



Rockville Post No. 14 

Walter C. Miller, Commander 
Claude Mills, Vice Commander 
Miss Sophie B. Polenska, Adjutant 
William Baer, Treasurer 

Neumarker, Edward 
Nutland, Albert 
Reed, Aimer L. 
Sadlak, William 
Shea, Thomas 
Sweeney, Gertrude, Miss 
Thrall, Frederick 
Weigold, William 
Winters, Herman 



Griswold Post No. 15 

Harold J. Brickley, Commander 
Wallace H. Payne, Vice Commander 
James Duggan, Adjutant 
H. George Wilcox, Treasurer 
Gilbert Miner, Historian 



Aramoney, Hazard 
Ashley, Edward 
Ashley, Ovelia 
Babcock, Adelbert A. 
Babcock, Charles I. 
Barry, John T. 
Benjamin, Carl H. 
Benjamin, Walter L. 
Besilie, Fred 
Blake, David A. 
Blake, John W., Jr. 
Blanchard, Edward L. 
Brickley, Harold J. 
Cadieux, Henry J, 



Campbell, Charles F. 
Campbell, George H. 
Clarke, Fred C. 
Couture, Fred 
Davis, George P. 
Desjardines, Eugene 
Diodato, Carmine 
Doyan, Napoleon J. 
Duggan, James J. 
Eichelburg, George W. 
Fay, Joseph D. 
Foley, Joseph 
Gray, Herbert 
Guillet, Ulysee E. 



115 



The American Legion in Connecticut 



Guillotte, Philemon 
Guttleman, Benjamin 
Hiseox, Earl S. 
Howard, Earl W. 
Jarvis, Etphage A. 
Jarvis, Frederiek 
Jennings, George H. 
Kingsley, Ralph B. 
LaCroix, Edmond J, 
Lafave, Hector A. 
LeClaire, Eugene 
LeClaire, Wilfred J. 
Manard, William 
MeElligott, John J. 
McKiernan, John H. 
Melvin, Sidney H. 
Menard, Harvey 
Miner, Gilbert H. 
Morgan, Charles F, 
Oakes, John C. 
Oakes, William E. 



Palmer, Charles 
Paney, Alec W. 
Payne, Wallace H. 
Perry, Medos 
Potts, John W. 
Raill, Frederick J. 
Raney, Ermir R. 
Ray, Charles E. 
Rioux, Arthur W. 
Robinson, Theodore A. 
Roy, Pierre J. 
St. John, Victor 
Sajewecz, Stanley 
Smith, John H. 
Snierwski, Adam 
Tatrault, Augustus 
Thornton, Erving M. 
Wheeler, Leon N. 
Wilcox, George H. 
Wyatt, Herbert 
Wyatt, John E. 



Naugatuck Post No. 17 

Harold P. Baldwin, Commander 

C. Arthur Eager, Vice Commander 

Leonard T. Welch, Finance Officer 

John M. Kenney, Adjutant 

W, Fremont Hoadley, Financial Secretary 



Adams, Austin 
Allerton, Geo. M. 
Anderson, Eimar 
Anderson, Gustav 
Anderson, Harry 
Anderson, Henry 
Anderson, Joel E. 
Anderson, Julius 
Anderson, Oscar S. 
Anderson, Victor 



Andrew, Geo. S. 
Anenberg, Slomom 
Annis, William 
Armbuster, Philip 
Ashford, Thomas 
Ashmore, John 
Asplund, William 
Atkins, Norris 
Ayers, John 
Bagley, Henry M. 



116 



Roster 



Baldwin, Edward 
Baldwin, Harold P. 
Balenski, Chester 
Baltakirs, John 
Bayliss, Sidney 
Beceski, Anthony 
Behlman, Geo. F. 
Benson, Orrin 
Benz, George 
Bober, Jacob 
Bober, Stanley 
Bohlin, Harold A. 
Bohlin, Herbert 
Boylan, William A. M, 
Bradshaw, Thomas P. 
Brandien, Harry 
Brannigan, Edward 
Braziel, Arthur 
Braziel, James J. 
Brennan, Carlton W. 
Brennan, Edward 
Br.ennan, Peter F. 
Brennan, William J. 
Capello, Charles 
Carbori, Mair 
Carluehio, Antonio 
Carroll, Lewis J. 
Cataldo, Roceo 
Casey, Joseph J. 
Chittenden, W. N. 
Christensen, John J. 
Claffey, James J. 
Classey, Edward A. 
Coffey, Patrick H. 
Condon, James J. 
Condon, Tracy 
Condon, William 
Connell, Philip A. 
Connolly, Harold M. 
Costello, Patrick 



Crampton, Charles 
Cross, Clifton Y. 
Cross, William E. 
Cuddy, Edward T. 
Cullen, John F. 
Culver, Andrew M. 
Currier, John A. 
Curry, Frank 
Curtin, John J. 
Curtiss, Alvin E. 
Czesky, John 
Dalton, James L. 
Daly, Charles F. 
Daniels, Michael 
Debihan, Thomas 
De Carlo, John 
DeDrospo, Henry 
Dermody, John T. 
Dinkle, Geo. H. 
Dinkle, Louis 
Dodge, Martin, Jr. 
Dolan, Wm. M. 
Donaher, Joseph G. 
Donavan, Geo. J. 
Donavan, James H. 
Donnelly, Raymond 
Donnelly, Thomas 
Dooling, Wm. B. 
Dowling, Harold E. 
Dowling, John F. 
Dunn, Lawrence 
Dutcher, Charles 
Edwards, Benjamin 
Ericson, Raymond 
Fager, Carl A, 
Farren, James ; T., 
Farren, Wm. 
Fitzgerald, Daniel 
Fitzpatrick, Michael 
Follett, Norris 



117 



The American Legion in Connecticut 



Foote, Lawrence W. 
Forbes, Raymond 
Ford, Raphael E. 
Freedman, Clarence 
Freeman, Geo. H. 
Freeman, John H. 
Freeman, Robert L. 
Freeman, Wm. J, 
Fruin, John 
Furando, Joseph 
Gerber, Edward 
Gerber, Theodore D. 
Gerrity, William T. 
Givino, Charles 
Gleason, Wm. F. 
Gniazdowski, Stanilaus 
Goggin, Thomas 
Gonnound, Thomas E. 
Goodwin, Harold 
Goodwin, Walter 
Gorman, John T. 
Gould, Norris 
Grant, James J. 
Grant, John 
Grant, Leroy E. 
Green, Paul E. 
Greene, Albert C. 
Greider, Charles D. 
Griffith, John E. 
Griswell, Charles 
Guisher, Jacob 
Gumalinski, Alenander 
Gustine, Edward 
Haggerty, Wm. A. 
Hagopian, Charles 
Haley, Wilfred 
Hall, James 
Ham, Conrad 
Hanks, Herbert C. 
Harper, Geo. A. 



Harper, Thomas P. 
Plarvey, Alec W. 
Harvey, William J. 
Healy, James 
Heinners, Joseph 
Hoadley, W. Fremont 
Hoar, Frank T. 
Hoey, Clarence J. 
Hogan, Edward L. 
Holloway, Leo S. 
Holm, Frank K. 
Holmes, Lewis C. 
Holton, Howard W, 
Hopwood, Harry 
Horn, August 
Housknecht, Arthur R. 
Hubbell, Briggs L. 
Hubbell, Stanley W. 
Hudner, Edward 
Isbell, Chester P. 
Isbell, Louis S. 
Jackson, John F. 
Jackson, Joseph L., Jr. 
Johns, Bennett D. 
Johnson, Evon 
Johnson, Geo. A. 
Johnson, Herbert 
Johnson, Joseph H, 
Jones, Watson 
Joyal, Donaldo 
Joyce, Robert F. 
Kahl, Louis 
Kamiatis, Byron 
Kaupinas, Giston 
Keating, Thomas 
Kelleher, Frank 
Kennedy, Edward J., Jr. 
Kennedy, George E. 
Kenny, John M. 
Kerner, Eric 



118 



Roster 



Kiely, Matthew 
Kiely, Richard 
Kierski, Stanley- 
King, Emil 
Klippel, Howard B. 
Koehler, Louis 
Korhut, Joseph 
Korowlotny, Alexander 
Kozenski, Roderick 
Kronke, George 
Kuln, Paul H. 
Lattner, William F. 
Lazes, George 
Leary, Edward J. 
Leary, Franklin J. 
Leary, John J. 
Leary, Peter J. 
Leary, Thomas 
Lelki, Emil 
Lelki, Michael 
Levenski, Stanley 
Lindall, Carl 
Lundin, Ernest 
Lwler, William 
Lyons, Samuel I. 
Maher, Edward J, 
Maher, John F. 
Maher, Thomas J. 
Maleaky, Frank P. 
Manicini, Joseph 
Manville, Charles 
Mariano, Charles 
Mariano, Jake 
Mariano, Tony 
Marianski, John 
Massicotte, Oscar C, 
McCarthy, Edward J. 
McDermott, Andrew W. 
McDonald, Justin F. 
McGovern, Geo. E. 



McGovern, Thomas J. 
McKinley, Geo. M. 
McSorley, Edward 
Meegin, Leo 
Meir, John J, 
Mellani, Philip 
Meyer, Edwin 
Miller, Leroy R. 
Miner, Arthur 
Miner, Page 
Mist, Elis 

Mitchell, Constance 
Molske, Alexander 
Monroe, Raymond 
Morse, Charles H. 
Morton, Henry 
Murtha, Thomas P. 
Nardiello, Felix 
Neary, William J., Jr. 
Nelson, Arvid J. A. 
Nelson, Robert J. 
Newman, Harold 
Noble, Charles J. 
Noble, Edward 
Noble, William J., Jr. 
Nolde, Alexander 
Norris, Michael J. 
Nyquist, William 
O'Donnell, Frank 
O'Donnell, John E. 
Offauser, Frank 
Olsak, Walter 
Olsewski, Stanley 
Olson, Carl W. 
Olson, Victor 0. 
Ostraski, John F. 
Painter, George H. 
Painter, William C, Jr. 
Parkinson, Edward J. 
Paul, Raymond W. 



119 



The American Legion in Connecticut 



Penrose, James E. 
Penrose, John W. 
Penrose, Leroy J. 
Perry, Harold R. 
Phillips, Byron S. 
Phillips, Eugene E. 
Pierson, Walter 
Pogliaro, Manzie 
Posick, Stephen 
Presta, Pasquale 
Pusik, William 
Quinn, Joseph P. 
Rathburn, Charles F. 
Ratto, Vitto 
Raythwich, Albert 
Raytkwich, Joseph C. J. 
Raytkwich, Robert T. 
Reid, James 
Reilly, Edward J. 
Reilly, Richard 
Reynolds, Thomas F. 
Richmond, Percy 
Roberts, Edward C. 
Roberts, John J. 
Roby, Milton A. 
Rocoski, E. 
Rose, Raymond 
Rowdski, Edward 
Rumney, George F. 
Rumney, Theodore 
Schildgen, Joseph 
Schiller, Louis, Jr. 
Schiller, Walter 
Schofield, Clifford 
Schuenson, Chas. W. 
Scott, Arthur L. 
Scott, Clarence W. 
Scully, Francis J. 
Sears, Leo F. 
Shea, Michael 



Shea, Michael T. 
Sheridian, Patrick 
Shimesky, Stanislaus 
Silkworth, Homer S. 
Simmons, John 
Skelly, Vincient E. 
Smith, Charles 
Smith, Howard S. 
Smith, Phillip 
Squires, Ailing 
Squires, Coulson H. 
Squires, Harry 
Stanysk, John 
Stearns, William F. 
Sullivan, Frank J. 
Suma, Joseph 
Swanson, Arthur 
Sweeney, Arthur 
Sweeney, William J. 
Sweetman, James E. 
Tangredi, James 
Tangredi, Louis 
Thomas, Alexander 
Thurston, Howard 
Thurston, John F. 
Todd, William R. 
Trestrail, Frederick C. 
Trestrail, Thomas E. 
Tuttle, Donald S. 
Tyburski, Anthony 
Tyburski, Eyrenus 
Tynan, Daniel G. 
Tyska, Bolesthaw 
Varney, Aaron I. 
Velski, John 
Vincent, Ralph E. 
Vitkus, Joe 
Walsh, Harry T, 
Walsh, Thomas A. 
Washieski, Theodore 



120 







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Department War Records 

STATE LIBRARY, HARTFORD. 



REPRODUCTION OF CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE STATE 



Roster 



Weber, Ernest 
Welch, Edward 
Welch, Leonard 
Wheeler, Harold E. 
Whelan, Thomas F. 
Whittemore, Harris, Jr. 
Wilcox, Benjamin 
Wilcox, Edward J. 
Wilmot, Dayton 
Wilson, Charles H. 



Wilson, Ethel H. 
Woodlock, Charles E. 
Wooster, Emmetto 
Wrinn, John 
Wylong, Frank J. 
Young, Kenneth 
Zehender, August G. 
Ziems, Walter E. 
Zummer, Frank 



Terryville Post No. 20 

Edward F. Newmann, Commander 
Edward E. Gill, Vice Commander 
William J, Murnane, Adjutant 
D wight W. Pond, Finance Officer 
H. B. Woodward, M. D., Historian 



Austin, Roland M. 
Balick, John 
Barker, Emerson E. 
Barry, Henry P. 
Bartold, Peter 
Bates, Lawrence 
Boyington, Charles 
Brainard, Fred W. 
Bull, George 
Casey, Joseph, Dr. 
Cleveland, Vincent 
Condon, William 
Cwieck, Stanley 
Czaplicki, Wladeslaw 
Degan, Charles 
Dewell, Dudley P. 
Donahue, John M. 
Donavan, Frank 
Duke, Peter P. 
Edwards, Frank 
Evanes, Francis M. 



Frank, Cecil E. 
Gibbs, John F, 
Gorie, Raymond 
Gosinski, Stanley 
Govatcki, Vincent 
Griswold, George 
Halpin, Matthew J. 
Hanley, Walter S. 
Harbert, Michael 
Harbert, Otto 
Hill, Harrison W. 
Hooker, Richard 
Hough, Robert W. 
Jobs, Emil 
Johnson, George S. 
Jones, Edward W. 
Kamens, Otto 
Karnes, Henry 
Kelly, William D. 
Koproski, Casimer 
Koss, Eric 



121 



The American Legion in Connecticut 



Koss, Ernest 
Krause, Edward 
Lawton, Richard J., M. D, 
Leach, Richard M. 
Lumpkin, Lester 
Lumpkin, "W. E. 
Mahoney, Clarence 
Mahoney, Clifieord E. 
Mahoney, Harry 
McClellan, Paul 
McClellan, Walter L. 
McEnany, Joseph 
Mendelson, Lawrence 
Murnane, Edward 
Neumann, Edward 
Neumann, Gustav H. 
Norton, George B. 
Olie, Michael 
Perry, George M. 
Piezanoski, Stanley 
Popko, Alexander 
Poynton, Gilbert 
Prock, Albert L. 
Prysturfa, Joseph 
Reardon, Dennis 
Ristow, Edward 



Sabo, Charles 
Salmon, Theodore 
Sehanil, Frank 
Schening, Adolph 
Schneider, Irving C. 
Seoville, Leon T. 
Solomon, Frank P. 
Steinburg, Emil 
Stieler, Fred H. 
Striegle, Joseph 
Strupp, Raymond 
Strupp, Samuel 
Taylor, Royal E. 
Tolles, John 
Tomilson, Jason 
Viering, Albert 
Werner, Julius 
White, Jay D. 
Wilcox, Horace 
Wilson, Charles A. 
Witik, John 
Wolcott, Ellsworth 
Wunderlich, Carl 
Wysenski, John J, 
Zeiner, Clarence 
Zinkewicz, Joseph 



Danielson Post No. 21 



Ira A, Warren, Commander 
Irving W. Davis, Vice Commander 
Lorimer H. Dixon, Secretary 
Henri L. Woisard, Treasurer 

Bard, Robert K. Bitgood, Wellington E. 

Barrows, Walter H. Blanchard, Leon M. 

Beckett, Thomas A. Breyea, John 

Benac, Pierre A. Burdick, Charles A. 

Bill, Lester A. Burton, Joseph A. 

Bissonetter, Alphieze Call, Howard R. 

122 



Roster 



Calvert, George A. 
Casey, Bernard R. 
Collins, Charles D. 
Colvin, Waldo 
Craig, Lester R, 
DeVinney, Walter 
Dixon, Howard 
Dragon, Robert 
Dunn, George 0. 
Ferrigno, Joseph 
Flint, Dwight A. 
Franklin, Charles E. 
Gartland, Vincent B. 
Geer, Earl L. 
Glendining, H. F. 
Greene, Harold E. 
Hamilton, Raymond B. 
Harvey, Norman E. 
Heselton, Joseph 
Hopkins, Herbert E. 
Hyde, Lawrence J. 
Janes, Clifford S. 
Keith, Merril R. 
Lagassey, Napoleon 
Lambert, Lucien 



Lapresto, Guiseppe 
Latham, Oliver 
Leipslitz, Nathan 
Marzarella, Alez 
Meunier, Emile 
Monoaghan, Thomas M. 
Murphy, Walter W. 
Pepler, Herbert H. 
Phaneuf, Philip 
Preston, John H. 
Reed, Alfred T. 
Reeves, Richard 
Robergem, Edward 
Rollinson, Walter 
Tussell, Charles B. 
Shepard, Arthur 
Simoneau, George 
Simoneau, Henry J. 
Sporatp, Frank 
Stone, George D, 
Tatrio, Ernest C. 
Todd, Frank P. 
Warren, Harry L. 
Wilbur, Earl 
Woodward, Chas. A. 



Wethersjield Post No. 23 



Everett H. Hart, Commander 
Karl T. Hoffman, Vice Commander 
Burton M. Mason, Adjutant 
Jack A. Young, Treasurer 
Richard N. Hart, Historian 

Adams, Arthur R. Carpenter, Frederick S. 

Ahearn, John J. Carpenter, Merrick B. 

Anderson, Arvid R. Clark, Leon Q. 

Anderson, Gustav W. DeLamater, Richard W. 

Baldwin, Myron R. DeMay, Winifred W. 

Bracken, Harrison C. Desmond, William M. 

123 



The American Legion in Connecticut 



Donovan, John J. 
Flansbury, William S. 
Francis, George S. 
Goodrick, Charlie 
Griswold, Edwin F. 
Griswold, Leon S. 
Griswold, Richard W. 
Hallisey, Joseph A. 
Harris, George M. 
Hickey, Thomas F. 
Isaacson, Alfred C. 
Kelley, Albert W. 
Kelley, George B. 
Kioby, Franklin L. 
Lee, Alfred D. 
Lindstrom, Winfred A. 
Officer, Arthur E. 
Pfenninghausen, Thomas H. 



Pomeroy, William C, 
Rondeau, Phillip E. 
Root, Alfred H. 
Shaw, Judson F. 
Skinner, George F. 
Smith, Herbert W. 
Smith, Richard M. 
Stevens, George H. 
Thrall, Irving R. 
Toothe, Charles D. 
Treadwell, William H. 
Wallin, Oscar 
Way, Francis A. 
Webster, Andrew N. 
Webster, Arthur E. 
Welles, Ashbel R. 
Winkler, Arthur L. 



Derby Post No.. 24 

Thomas K. Keefe, Chairman 
Raymond J. Payden, Vice Chairman 
William A. Eaton, Secretary 
Patrick E. Fox, Treasurer 

Bachs, Peter Morgan, William 

Bergen, Joseph E. O'Hara, John 

Cotter, Edward 'Sullivan, Patrick 

Degman, Franklin J. Purcella, Andrew 

Goldberg, Harry Scarpa, Joseph 

Haugh, Harry Scarpa, Lewis 

Hubbell, John Secor, Jerome B. 

Hudson, Claude Sharpe, Elmer T. 

Hummel, Fred Stanley, Alfred 

Hummel, George Tracy, Vincent 

Lautz, Raymond Voorhees, John S. 

Lightfoot, John R. Wakefield, George A. 

Meade, John Woods, Thomas 

124 



Roster 
Beacon Falls Post No. 25 

Eobert C. McCarthy, Commander 
James W. Woodward, Vice Commander 
Willis 0. Peterson, Secretary 
Chris Heiss, Treasurer 

Bard, Leonard J. Porter, Stugis J. 

Borg, Oscar W. Eeynard, Herman 

Buchanan, LeRoy J. Strafford, Thomas J. 

Cronin, George D. Surface, George C. 

Dank, Earle Williams, Harold J. 

Johnson, Herbert Wolfe, Walter J. 
Matyzaicik, William 



Delegates to National Conventions 

MINNEAPOLIS, NOVEMBER 11, 1919 
B. H. Matthies 

CLEVELAND, 1920 

B. H. Matthies Archibald McDonald, Jr. 

John L. Purcell Morris B. Payne 

Dr. J. A. Gettings Frank J. Compert 

Vincent L. Keating Elmer B. Haines 



125 



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